Louisiana Legislative Auditor
Daryl G. Purpera, CPA, CFE

April 4, 2016

Caddo Constable Fails to Report All Office Revenue or Personal Income as Required by Law

An assessment of the financial operations of the Caddo Parish Constable of Ward Eight found that the office sent inaccurate financial statements to the Legislative Auditor’s office for two years, the state auditor said in a letter issued today. In addition, the constable failed to disclose all of his personal income to the state Board of Ethics and failed to provide appropriate insurance for his deputy constables, the Legislative Auditor said.

Under state law, constables who take in less than $200,000 in revenue each fiscal year are required to file a sworn financial statement and revenue certification with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. A review of the office’s records for 2013 and 2014 showed that at least $5,534 in revenue was not included in the financial statements sent to the auditor’s office.

Auditors also reviewed the constable’s financial disclosure statements for 2012, 2013, and 2014. Every elected official representing a voting district with 5,000 or more residents must file a financial disclosure statement with the Louisiana Board of Ethics each year. The review showed that companies owned by the constable received $292,975 from the Shreveport Housing Authority in 2012 and 2013 that was not included on his financial disclosure statements, nor was $54,954 in income he received from other sources.

Louisiana law also requires that employers of political subdivisions must provide workers’ compensation or other liability insurance for employees. Auditors found that while the constable purchased insurance for himself through the Professional Law Enforcement Association, he did not do the same for his deputy constables. The failure to provide liability insurance could place the office at risk in the event of a lawsuit.

In his response, the constable said the auditor’s findings were false.

For more information contact:

Legislative Auditor
225.339.3800



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Office of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor | www.LLA.La.gov