Ville Platte Housing Authority Security Contract Payments May Have Been Improper

Investigative auditors looking into complaints about the Housing Authority of the City of Ville Platte found that the Authority may have improperly paid the assistant police chief for security services.

Records showed that between January and December 2017, the Authority paid the assistant chief $9,600 as required by its security services contract with the City. However, auditors were unable to find any documentation, such as detailed timesheets, that showed what services the assistant chief performed.

Auditors also found that the assistant chief did not perform all of the duties required under the contract, such as initiating and monitoring ongoing lines of communication with resident leaders and coordinating security workshops and training seminars for residents.

If the Authority paid the assistant chief for services he did not provide, it may be in violation of the state Constitution.