State Police official arrested
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The executive director of the Louisiana State Police Commission was arrested Monday after authorities investigating purchases on a state-issued credit card found some of the items in her home, state Inspector General Stephen Street said.
Debra L. Johnson, 49, was arrested by the Attorney General’s Office after agents searched her Linstrom Drive home and found some of the state-purchased equipment, Street said. Johnson was booked into Parish Prison on counts of felony theft, malfeasance in office and access-device fraud.
The Inspector General’s Office began investigating the purchases after receiving a complaint from the state Division of Administration, Street said. The purchases, which he said were worth “tens of thousands of dollars” from July 2006 to December 2007 alone, included laptop computers, high-definition radios, DVD players, telephones and almost $10,000 worth of Microsoft software.
After cataloging the purchases, the Inspector General’s Office asked the Attorney General’s Office to participate in a criminal investigation, Street said. Officials went to the commission’s office on Wooddale Boulevard on Monday before searching Johnson’s home, where she was arrested.
Many of the purchases were for amounts much larger than what would have been needed by the commission — such as 36 flash drives that cost about $2,200, Street said. Officials were investigating to determine whether Johnson may have given some of the purchases as gifts or sold them.
The seven-member State Police Commission, which is similar to the Civil Service Commission, makes rules for the administration and regulation of the State Police, enforces and administers its rules and adjudicates appeals.
Six of the commission members are appointed by the governor — none of whom has been appointed by the current administration — and one is elected by State Police members, State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson said. Johnson manages the day-to-day operation of the commission.
Edmonson, who has no authority over the commission, said commission members expect to make a decision today about Johnson’s job status while the investigation is ongoing.
Debra L. Johnson, 49, was arrested by the Attorney General’s Office after agents searched her Linstrom Drive home and found some of the state-purchased equipment, Street said. Johnson was booked into Parish Prison on counts of felony theft, malfeasance in office and access-device fraud.
The Inspector General’s Office began investigating the purchases after receiving a complaint from the state Division of Administration, Street said. The purchases, which he said were worth “tens of thousands of dollars” from July 2006 to December 2007 alone, included laptop computers, high-definition radios, DVD players, telephones and almost $10,000 worth of Microsoft software.
After cataloging the purchases, the Inspector General’s Office asked the Attorney General’s Office to participate in a criminal investigation, Street said. Officials went to the commission’s office on Wooddale Boulevard on Monday before searching Johnson’s home, where she was arrested.
Many of the purchases were for amounts much larger than what would have been needed by the commission — such as 36 flash drives that cost about $2,200, Street said. Officials were investigating to determine whether Johnson may have given some of the purchases as gifts or sold them.
The seven-member State Police Commission, which is similar to the Civil Service Commission, makes rules for the administration and regulation of the State Police, enforces and administers its rules and adjudicates appeals.
Six of the commission members are appointed by the governor — none of whom has been appointed by the current administration — and one is elected by State Police members, State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson said. Johnson manages the day-to-day operation of the commission.
Edmonson, who has no authority over the commission, said commission members expect to make a decision today about Johnson’s job status while the investigation is ongoing.
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