Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) Executive Director Jason Hannaman, who is alleged to have engaged in, “nothing short of direct lobbying” for the reappointment of one of his then-bosses, Jared Caruso-Riecke. That allegation arises from a December 5, 2024 letter from Hannaman to Dillard University President Monique Guillory informing her of the vacancy created by Riecke’s term expiring the same day of the letter (12/5/24).
It has been quite some time since we’ve had the intense interest in a Sound Off Louisiana series to compare with that which has been generated by the vacancy on the LSPC as a result of long-time Commissioner Jared Caruso-Riecke’s term expiring on December 5, 2024.
We’ve learned plenty since we began the series on December 16, 2024.
Perhaps no discovery is more revealing than former Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough making it crystal clear that University Presidents are, “simply cover for these appointments,” together with his emphatic statement that, “defying a Governor’s choice is political suicide.”
In making his revelations, Dr. Kimbrough provided irrefutable evidence of what many individuals (including us at Sound Off Louisiana) have theorized for a long time: that the whole nomination process by University Presidents is nothing short of a total and complete sham!
It was on Sunday, December 22, 2024 that we published this feature outlining the many controversies of Riecke. The feature even contained a lead photo of he and his wife displaying obscene gestures on Facebook at a Mardi Gras Ball in 2024.
Perhaps it’s not coincidental then that, the very next day, Monday, December 23, 2024, which was also two days after being named Dillard’s permanent President, Monique Guillory drafted this letter to Gov. Jeff Landry indicating that her nominee for the position is Mr. Stephen L. Guidry, Jr. Gov. Landry previously appointed Guidry to the Louisiana Highway and Safety Commission earlier in 2024, and he serves as Chairman of that Commission.
In conformity with Kimbrough’s contention about University Presidents, “serving as cover” for appointments that are, in reality, dictated to them by the Governor, Guidry’s name was the only one submitted by Guillory.
Guillory also supplied a brief paragraph about Guidry that would serve the dual purpose of making an easy copy and paste whenever Gov. Landry’s Office formally announces Guidry’s appointment.
From President Guillory’s 12/23/24 letter (which was received by the LSPC on Thursday, December 26, 2024 @ 4:53 p.m.):
Mr. Guidry is an established business owner in the community, supporter of local charity organizations and dedicated public servant. He has served as a Commissioner for the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission since 2016, and in 2024 was named Chairman of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
With Guidry’s appointment, Gov. Landry has essentially placed his own footprint on the LSPC by his near complete overhaul of its composition.
The only Edwards holdover on the LSPC is Commissioner Mark “Aubrey” Cole, whom then-WBRZ reporter Chris Nakamoto aired this feature entailing, “racism claimed by an employee of Cole.”
[Note: Monty Montelongo serves as the elected active LSP Trooper representative and is thus not appointed by the Governor.]
Speaking of Nakamoto, his non-compete agreement with WBRZ is now up. In fact, on Monday, January 6, 2025, his first feature on WAFB is being touted.
That feature entails former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain and the fact that he has been receiving his $11,000/month pension while serving in prison for his conviction on molesting a number of young boys.
We’re anxious to see Nakamoto back on air in the Baton Rouge market, and he’ll also be anchoring WAFB’s 5 p.m. newscast.
We wish the very best to Gov. Landry’s new appointees to the LSPC because, God knows, they can’t possibly be much worse than those of Gov. Edwards.
Furthermore, we know from all the emails, phone calls, and the social media shares of our series on Riecke’s vacancy that he had a massive level of opposition to any reappointment of him by Gov. Landry.
Accordingly, we strongly commend Landry on not making a Riecke reappointment despite many folk, including former Dillard President Kimbrough, assessing LSPC Executive Director Hannaman as having engaged in “lobbying” to Dillard University President Guillory for Landry to make such a reappointment.