Attorney General: French Settlement police chief’s wife not allowed to drive his cruiser

May 18--The wife of French Settlement's police chief may not drive his patrol car, the state attorney general has opined.

Chief Harry Brignac had been in a stand-off with other village leaders over whether his wife could use his taxpayer-funded police unit. Brignac has argued that he has the authority to allow anyone to use his cruiser, while aldermen worried it would pose an insurance liability.

Tammy Brignac was arrested for driving while intoxicated in February, though she was not driving a police unit.

French settlement officials contacted the AG's office for guidance on the issue of her driving the chief's patrol car.

Whether Tammy Brignac could be included on an insurance policy is immaterial because she isn't allowed to drive the squad car at all, wrote Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Wale.

Police vehicles may not be used for personal use unless authorized by the mayor and board of aldermen, Wale wrote. The AG's office warns against such a decision to avoid violating laws preventing the donation or loan of government property to private citizens and entities.

Mayor Toni Guitrau said she and the board have not given permission to allow police vehicles for personal use. She said she's pleased by the AG's opinion, which confirmed what she already believed to be true.

The village is currently drafting a policy that will formally clarify the rules for using police vehicles. Guitrau hopes to have a version ready by the June board of aldermen meeting.

Harry Brignac said it's immaterial whether his wife is permitted to use his cruiser, because she doesn't.

Guitrau and several aldermen have said they've seen Tammy Brignac using the chief's cruiser, including in the village's Christmas parade. The Brignacs have conceded that she's driven it in the past, but Harry Brignac said Friday the only reason his wife would use his police vehicle is if he were to have a medical emergency and she needed to take him to the hospital.

The chief was heartened by another part of the opinion, though.

He called attention to a portion which says an elected police chief like himself "has the inherent power and authority to supervise and control his office, equipment and personnel."

Brignac said he would be bringing that part of the opinion before the aldermen next time he sees them.

Tammy Brignac has said that the whole reason her driving has become an issue is because her husband has proposed that the village stop allowing its two other police officers to take their patrol units home.

Other village leaders have resisted, saying the allowance is written into their hiring agreements and could help officers respond to an emergency scene faster.

Harry Brignac said Friday he's just looking out for the taxpayers of French Settlement.

"It's not punishing (the officers), it's to save the town money," he said. He added that there is no way to tell where officers will go in their cruisers while they're off-duty.

The chief said the decision was born of a desire to save money on gas and vehicle wear and tear. He said he plans to use the recent opinion to back up his case.

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