| Agencyname: | Baton Rouge Police Department |
| Abbreviation: | BRPD |
| Patch: | Baton Rouge Police Department Patch.jpg |
| Patchcaption: | Patch of the BRPD |
| Badge: | BatonRougeBadge.JPG |
| Badgecaption: | BRPD Badge |
| Formedyear: | 1865 |
| Employees: | 887 |
| Budget: | $95.8 million (2022)[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Countryabbr: | USA |
| Divtype: | State |
| Divname: | Louisiana |
| Subdivtype: | City |
| Subdivname: | Baton Rouge |
| Map: | BatonRouge EBatonRouge.png |
| Sizearea: | 79.1sqmi. |
| Sizepopulation: | 227,071 (2021)[2] |
| Police: | Yes |
| Local: | Yes |
| Headquarters: | 9000 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA 70815 |
| Sworntype: | Police Officer |
| Sworn: | 645 |
| Unsworn: | 267 |
| Chief1name: | Thomas S. "TJ" Morse |
| Chief1position: | Chief of Police |
| Stationtype: | District |
| Stations: | 5 |
| Airbases: | 1 |
| Website: | https://www.brla.gov/2706/Police-Department |
The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) (French: Département de Police de Bâton Rouge) is the primary law enforcement agency in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Chief of Police, as of March 8, 2018, was Murphy Paul.
The BRPD was formally established in 1865, just after the end of the Civil War, with the appointment of the first Chief of Police.
The BRPD has a history of police brutality against Blacks and strained relations with the black community in Baton Rouge.[3] [4] Most recently, in 2016, two BRPD officers shot and killed Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man, while trying to detain him. The police killing lead to protests and demonstrations in Baton Rouge and elsewhere, leading to the arrests of hundreds of individuals.[5] [6] [7] Due to the violence and arrests that erupted at these protests, local organizing groups and the Louisiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Baton Route Police Department for violating the First Amendment rights of protesting individuals.[8] Less than two weeks after the killing of Alton Sterling, three BRPD officers were shot and killed by Gavin Eugene Long in a shootout.
| Rank | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief | |
| Deputy Chief of Police | |
| Major | |
| Captain | |
| Lieutenant | |
| Sergeant | |
| Corporal | |
| Police Officer First Class | No Insignia |
| Police Officer | No Insignia |
| Trainee | No Insignia |
The Chief of Police is appointed by, and reports to, the Mayor. The Chief is assisted by four Deputy Chiefs who are appointed by The Chief of Police. All other police positions are promotional and based on seniority, as mandated by state civil service law.[9]
| Name | Dates in Office | |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Sanchez | 1865 to 12 Feb 1866 | |
| Eri Morley Brooks, Sr. | 12 Feb 1866 to 1874 | |
| Oscar Heady Foreman | 1874 to 1 Apr 1876 | |
| Robert Wiseman | 1 Apr 1877 to 23 Sep 1878 | |
| Thomas Benton Hillen | 1878 to 4 Apr 1887 | |
| Joshua Baker Hare | 4 Apr 1887 to 15 Nov 1911 | |
| Phillip Patrick Huyck | 15 Nov 1911 to 23 Apr 1914 | |
| King H. Strenzke | 23 Apr 1914 to 23 Jan 1939 | |
| Joseph W. Bates | 23 Jan 1939 to 21 Jul 1939 | |
| Wilbur D. Atkins | 22 Jul 1939 to 2 Jan 1941 | |
| Perry M. Johnson | 2 Jan 1941 to 31 May 1944 | |
| Fred C. Parker, Jr. | 31 May 1944 to 31 Dec 1952 | |
| Joseph H. Green | 1 Jan 1953 to 12 Apr 1954 | |
| Shirley S. Arrighi | 12 Apr 1954 to 1 Mar 1961 | |
| Arthur A. Altazin | 1 Mar 1961 to 7 Mar 1961 | |
| Wingate Moore White | 7 Mar 1961 to 30 Sep 1964 | |
| Eddie O. Bauer, Jr. | 1 Oct 1964 to 1 Jan 1965 | |
| David Keyser | 1 Jan 1965 to 15 Feb 1968 | |
| Eddie O. Bauer, Jr. | 15 Feb 1968 to 5 Feb 1973 | |
| Rudolph Ratcliff | 5 Feb 1973 to 29 Apr 1974 | |
| Howard Kidder | 29 Apr 1974 to 3 Feb 1975 | |
| Williard R. Ashford, Jr. | 3 Feb 1975 to 22 Sep 1975 | |
| Howard Kidder | 22 Sep 1975 to 1 Jul 1979 | |
| George L. "Johnny" Johnston | 1 Jul 1979 to 2 Jan 1981 | |
| Pat Bonanno | 2 Jan 1981 to 22 Jul 1985 | |
| Wayne Rogillio | 22 Jul 1985 to 16 Dec 1991 | |
| Greg Phares | 16 Dec 1991 to 18 Jan 2001 | |
| Pat Englade | 18 Jan 2001 to 24 Feb 2005 | |
| Jeff LeDuff | 24 Feb 2005 to 4 Nov 2010 | |
| Charles Mondrick | 4 Nov 2010 to 31 May 2011 | |
| Dewayne White | 31 May 2011 to 6 Feb 2013 | |
| Carl Dabadie, Jr. | 6 Feb 2013 to 8 Mar 2018 | |
| Murphy J. Paul, Jr. | 8 Mar 2018 to 21 Dec 2023 | |
| Thomas S. "TJ" Morse, Jr.[10] | 21 Dec 2023 to present |