Fight in WBR over who can run security at parish community centers

WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LA (NBC33) - — There is a fight in West Baton Rouge Parish over a parish ordinance that the Addis Police Department is accused of ignoring.

The law in the parish says if a person wants to rent a community center for an event, there must be a uniformed officer on hand to provide security.

If alcohol is not being sold at the event an "officer" from either the sheriff's department or city police can be hired.

But if alcohol is sold, parties have to go through the city police department.

West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputies say the Addis Police Chief Ricky Anderson is "harassing" people and forcing them to hire Addis police officers regardless of if alcohol is served or not.

But Chief Anderson said he just wants to his guys to get a bigger piece of the pie.

" You want me to do it when you want me to sign the letter to let them sell alcohol,” said Chief Anderson. “But you don't want me to have, or you don't care who has it when they're not selling alcohol. If we’re giving alcohol away it doesn't matter who works it. "

Colonel Richie Johnson with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department said, "If you follow the police chiefs mentality it’s you have to hire his officers. This is not about money, but he his making it about money."

The war of words occurred at a public hearing in West Baton Rouge Parish Council chambers. The council did not make any changes to the ordinance Thursday evening.