The Bossier Parish Republican Executive Committee wants Police Jury member Rick Avery to resign his seat.

Rick Avery Edited
loading...

Committee spokesman Mike Collier tells KEEL News a lot of people are upset with Avery's actions on April 10, when he was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. He was never charged, and three Bossier City police officers were disciplined because of it.

"Bossier Republicans simply felt like that we need to stand by our Bossier officers," Collier said. "And to allow a public official to either directly or indirectly cause their dismissal...it's not right."

Collier said Avery has offered an apology to the Police Jury, but not to the citizens who were endangered by his actions or the officers he attempted to intimidate.

There are 14 members on the executive committee in the parish. One of them took a straw poll on Monday, and out of the 15 residents he asked, 14 of them said the man needs to step down.

"I, as chairman of that committee, I made a comment that the guy has served for 28 years plus, and are we sure that this incident is enough to ask him to step down from the post that he has served and served well? And the answer was yes," Collier said. "So by unanimous vote, that's what was taken and that led to our asking him to resign his seat on the police jury."

He also said he personally asked Avery to step down, and Avery told him he needed some time to make a decision. Collier said Avery has a great voting record on the police jury and has represented his constituents very well, but his actions have stirred up a lot of people's emotions.

"What has been seen in the media, what has been talked about, is pretty bad," said Collier. "And times have changed, and certain things that 30 years ago were tolerated, well today it's not even possible to be tolerated."

We should find out following this afternoon's Police Jury meeting whether the group will ask Avery to resign.

More From News Radio 710 KEEL