A new bloom of controversy swirls around the Mayor’s office as the man trusted with her security appears to have billing irregularities on his time sheet.
This has prompted the Police Department’s Public Integrity Bureau to investigate.
Officer Jeffrey Vappie reportedly billed the department for long hours he was assigned to the mayor’s detail though the Mayor’s scheduled showed little need for him.
Video records obtained by a broadcast outlet show Vappie was inside the Upper Pontalba apartment used by the Mayor for extended periods of time.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, Vappie reportedly billed the Department for being on duty 39 hours of a 40-hour stretch.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell has responded calling Vappie a “valued and trusted adviser,” but did concede her office will stand by the investigation from the PIB.
Meanwhile, two New Orleans City Council members, JP Morrell and Joe Giarrusso are calling for a federal monitor connected to Federal Consent Decree office step in and investigate the matter independently. They are also calling on the Independent Police Monitor to look into whether there was any conflict of interest.
The PIB investigation is looking to find out if Vappie worked more than 16 hours, 35 minutes in one 24-hour shift—a violation of departmental policy.
Vappie has been reassigned while the investigation is underway, according to Mayor Cantrell.
