Louisiana Indictments: Four Baton Rouge Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up

Four Baton Rouge Police Department officers were indicted on Tuesday for allegedly covering up the abuse of a suspect by an officer in September 2020. The indictment comes amid legal challenges to a new Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms.

The state of Louisiana is facing major backlash over a new law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. Critics argue that the law violates the separation of church and state, while supporters say it is necessary to promote morality.

The law, which was signed by Governor John Bel Edwards in June, requires all public schools in the state to display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a prominent location in each classroom. The law also states that schools cannot "omit or alter any part of the Ten Commandments."

Louisiana Indictments: Four Baton Rouge Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up

Opponents of the law have filed a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. The lawsuit argues that the law is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

The lawsuit also argues that the law is discriminatory because it only requires the display of the Ten Commandments, which are a Christian religious text. Other religious groups have filed similar lawsuits, arguing that the law unfairly favors Christianity over other religions.

Louisiana Indictments: Four Baton Rouge Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up

The state of Louisiana has defended the law, arguing that it is not intended to promote Christianity but rather to promote morality. The state argues that the Ten Commandments are a set of universal moral principles that are shared by all major religions.

The debate over the Ten Commandments law is likely to continue for some time. The outcome of the lawsuit could have implications for other states that are considering similar laws.

Louisiana Indictments: Four Baton Rouge Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up

Four Baton Rouge Police Department officers were indicted on Tuesday for allegedly covering up the abuse of a suspect by an officer in September 2020. The indictment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Baton Rouge Police Department, which has been accused of excessive force and misconduct in recent years.

The officers who were indicted are Douglas Chutz Jr., Todd Thomas, Troy Lawrence Sr., and Martele Jackson. Chutz, Thomas, and Lawrence are charged with obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, and malfeasance in office. Jackson is charged with malfeasance in office.

Louisiana Indictments: Four Baton Rouge Police Officers Accused of Cover-Up

The indictment alleges that the officers conspired to hide evidence of the abuse of a suspect by an officer. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was allegedly beaten by an officer during a strip search.

The officers are accused of writing a false report about the incident and hiding the body camera footage of the abuse.

The indictment is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by the Baton Rouge Police Department. In recent years, the department has been sued for excessive force, false arrests, and other misconduct.

The department has been under increased scrutiny since the 2016 police killing of Alton Sterling. Sterling, a black man, was shot and killed by two white police officers after they responded to a call about a man selling CDs outside a convenience store.

The Sterling shooting sparked protests and calls for reform of the Baton Rouge Police Department. The department has since made some changes, including increased training for officers and the creation of a citizen review board.

However, the indictment of the four officers shows that there is still more work to be done to address the problems of misconduct and excessive force within the Baton Rouge Police Department.