Over the past several months, and even years, many in the community have felt alarmed, confused, and often left in the dark about serious incidents involving local law enforcement — particularly the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. And it's not just one department. The public has raised concerns about multiple situations involving PCSO Bowling Green, and Louisiana PD over the last five years. This isn’t about one case or one headline —it's about a pattern of opacity and a culture of silence that damages public trust and opens the county to legal and reputational risk. In March, a local police chief held a press conference accusing the Pike County Sheriff’s Office of interference and concealment. The allegations are serious —and they were made publicly. Since then, there has been no public acknowledgement from the Sheriff’s Office, Highway Patrol, the Commissioners, or from the Mayor. The deputies allegedly involved remain on active duty. No updates. No statement. No accountability. We will be presenting this petition to the city councils of Bowling Green and Louisiana as well as the County Commissioners.
PROPOSED RESPONSIBILITIES of the CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD:
● Investigate complaints of police misconduct and ensure they are handled fairly.
● Review policies and procedures of the police department to recommend improvements and changes.
● Conduct regular public forums or meetings to engage the community and gather feedback.
● Provide transparent reports on the findings of Investigations and policy reviews.
● Collaborate with the police department to promote best practices and prevent misconduct.
WHY THIS MATTERS
1. Transparency: Ensures public accountability for police officers and the department.
2. Fairness: Provides an independent body to investigate allegations of misconduct.
3. Community Trust: Strengthens relationships between law enforcement and the community by involving citizens in Oversight.
4. Preventive Measures: Helps identify systemic issues and provides solutions to reduce incidents of police misconduct.
WE NEED 1000 SIGNATURES