Vitter Passes on State Police Security Detail

10/26/2015-- 10:26 AM CDT

Suggests deploying the four professionals to important locations around state instead

(Metairie, La.) – David Vitter today sent a letter to Colonel Mike Edmonson, Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police letting him know that he will not require the State Police personal security detail during the gubernatorial run-off and suggests deploying them to other important areas in Louisiana instead.

Below is a copy of Vitter’s letter from this morning.

October 26, 2015

Re: State Police Personal Security Detail

Dear Colonel Edmonson:

Following up on your previous briefing, I will not require any State Police personal security detail during the gubernatorial run-off.

Please again pass on my sincere thanks to all under your command ?for their dedicated, professional public service. My decision to not use up valuable State Police resources on a personal security detail should be viewed as an extremely positive appreciation of the critical work they do across the state.

I certainly cannot and would not tell you how to deploy those 4 professionals who would otherwise be assigned to me. But as a citizen, I do have two suggestions: 1) Station them on I-10 near the ("new") Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge? and on the Atchafalaya Basin to move accidents out of lanes of traffic quickly; or 2) Add them in a highly visible way to your officers in the New Orleans French Quarter in light of the very worrisome crime problem there.

I can assure you that if I'm honored to be elected governor, the Protective Services Division will be reduced in size so that these and other reassignments can be made permanently.