Deputy Gregory Malveaux has for years served the City Council in a number of security functions, most recently as bodyguard for Council President Helena Moreno.
She has described Malveaux as her right hand man, describing the close nature of their relationship as the Council President has visited parts of the city affected by Hurricane Ida and other natural disasters as a council member at large.
Recently though a charge that Malveaux was “stalking Mayor Latoya Cantrell” came to light, Deputy Malveaux was reassigned to the Parish Jail.
Moreno calls the maneuver political retaliation by Mayor Cantrell against the City Council for their recent actions to demand the Mayor repay the city for first class travel and other actions.
Moreno made her comments on the matter public speaking with WWL’s Newell Normand earlier Wednesday afternoon. “When I heard on Friday that he was being reassigned because of an allegation that he—quote—was stalking the Mayor, I was like, this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I know a hundred percent that he would never, ever do anything like that.”
Moreno says the reassignment is clearly an action that’s politically motivated:
“This is political retaliation on the council—me serving as the council president. There’s not anything she can do to my city staff, but she obviously can have an impact on staff that is not directly over me because my deputy works for the Sheriff’s Office.”
Moreno says she’s spoken to Sheriff Susan Hutson about the matter and hopes she conducts a full investigation which will clear Malveaux and return him to the City Council.
“I’m really hoping that the Sheriff does the right thing, and sees this for what it is, and clears him to come back into my office where he belongs,” Moreno said.
Moreno doesn’t understand why her bodyguard was reassigned so quickly and almost without warning: “But why is that he is already being punished just based on an allegation where there is no evidence. Where everyone can see that this is really just politically motivated.”