Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and ten of her department’s officials spent nearly $24,000 of taxpayer money attending the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association’s annual three-day convention in Destin, Florida.
The trip came at a time when the jail, the primary facility Hutson oversees, was plagued violence in the form of fights and stabbings while the Sheriff and a significant number of her command staff were away on leave.
WWL-TV calls the event: “Part vacation, part political gathering, but mostly an educational opportunity for sheriffs and their top brass, the LSA conference is held nearly every summer at the upscale Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.”
The ten attendees is one of the largest groups ever to attend the event. By contrast Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office sent Sheriff Jerry Turlich and three top officials. St. Bernard Sheriff Jimmy Pohlman and one sergeant attended, and Jefferson Parish Joseph Lopinto and his chief deputy and a civilian director attended.
“I think this is an indication of some fiscal irresponsibility to bring this number of people,” Rafael Goyeneche, president of the non-profit Metropolitan Crime Commission, told the station.
The attendance at the event comes at a time when Hutson has complained to the city council low pay for deputies.
“You can't be saying that you're cash-strapped then spending so lavishly,” New Orleans Council President Helena Moreno said.