Naacp banquet - Terrebonne
By: Howard J. Castay, Jr.
Terrebonne Parish NAACP President Jerome Boykin awarded Houma Police Chief Patrick Boudreaux the organization’s president’ s award , ignoring accusations lodged against the city’s top police officer, who remains on a paid leave until investigations are complete.
Boykin announced the honor during the 26th Annual NAAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday, which also featured Hollywood Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. as its guest speaker, and native son, Hollywood Actor Cordell Moore as its master of ceremonies.
“The NAACP is not concerned about what complaints have been made against Chief Boudreaux. His record is unblemished,” Boykin said.
“Furthermore, this NAACP will do all that we can to see that Chief Patrick Boudreaux remains the Chief of the Houma Police Department,” he said.
Boudreaux, choked up with the honor, told the crowd, “This is the best award I have ever received. It’s the best, because I got it for who I am, what I stand for and what I believe. It wasn’t for something I did, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Boudreaux said when Boykin informed him that he was going to be the recipient of the 2008 award, “I told him, what about the letters. You need to read the
letters say. In turn, Jerome responded, ‘I don’t need to read anything. I know who you are. I know what you stand for,’.”
The crowd gave Boudreaux a standing ovation.
Shortly before the start of summer, accusations of sexual harassment and an instance of improper use of police equipment were lodged against Boudreaux by members of his department, in letters sent to the Houma Terrebonne Civic Service Board.
Just as the items surfaced, Boudreaux went on a medical leave of absence to take care of a spinal cord injury, which required physical therapy and previously, chemotherapy and radiation.
When he was about to return to work at the beginning of July, Parish President Michel Claudet placed him on a 60 day paid administrative leave, until the results of the investigation are complete.
Boykin told the crowd on Saturday, that it wasn’t until news of the chief’s illness that the accusations surfaced.
“You know all last year, and the year before, in Jefferson Parish, there was a Sheriff, sick with leukemia. Not once while he was seeking treatment, were there allegations thrown against him. Not once while he was sick, did someone start a movement to recall Harry Lee,” Boykin said.
“Whoever is doing this against this man, whom I believe is one of the best chief’s we’ve ever had, better watch out. It’s a vicious attack,” Boykin said. “Several officers saw their boss’ sickness as a weakness. They’d better watch out,” he said.
Boykin has been president of the Terrebonne Parish NAACP since 1995. Since that time, through his efforts, the organization has given away more than $250,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors, both black and white, from Terrebonne Parish High Schools.
On Saturday, he received a check from the Olive Garden Restaurant in Hou
ma, in the amount of $15,000 for scholarships, and $20,000 from the Outback Restaurant, also in Houma.
Gossett was the keynote speaker during Saturday’s banquet, saluting the 2008 graduating class.
“Nothing is impossible,” he told them. To the mixed race crowd, he said, “Look at yourself, how beautiful this is.”
Gossett then told the crowd, “Somewhere along on the line, this country has placed oil as its most valuable commodity. I disagree. I believe it is our children. What we plant in them is how the future will grow.”
Moore was the master of ceremonies. A graduate of South Terrebonne High School, his rec
ent work includes two Tyler Perry films, “Why Did I Get Married” and “Dairy of a Mad Black Woman”.
Also during the banquet, Lafourche Parish President Craig Webre deputized Gossett with an honorary commission and Claudet presented keys to the city-parish.
By: Howard J. Castay, Jr.
Terrebonne Parish NAACP President Jerome Boykin awarded Houma Police Chief Patrick Boudreaux the organization’s president’ s award , ignoring accusations lodged against the city’s top police officer, who remains on a paid leave until investigations are complete.
Boykin announced the honor during the 26th Annual NAAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Saturday, which also featured Hollywood Actor Louis Gossett, Jr. as its guest speaker, and native son, Hollywood Actor Cordell Moore as its master of ceremonies.
“The NAACP is not concerned about what complaints have been made against Chief Boudreaux. His record is unblemished,” Boykin said.
“Furthermore, this NAACP will do all that we can to see that Chief Patrick Boudreaux remains the Chief of the Houma Police Department,” he said.
Boudreaux, choked up with the honor, told the crowd, “This is the best award I have ever received. It’s the best, because I got it for who I am, what I stand for and what I believe. It wasn’t for something I did, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Boudreaux said when Boykin informed him that he was going to be the recipient of the 2008 award, “I told him, what about the letters. You need to read the
letters say. In turn, Jerome responded, ‘I don’t need to read anything. I know who you are. I know what you stand for,’.”The crowd gave Boudreaux a standing ovation.
Shortly before the start of summer, accusations of sexual harassment and an instance of improper use of police equipment were lodged against Boudreaux by members of his department, in letters sent to the Houma Terrebonne Civic Service Board.
Just as the items surfaced, Boudreaux went on a medical leave of absence to take care of a spinal cord injury, which required physical therapy and previously, chemotherapy and radiation.
When he was about to return to work at the beginning of July, Parish President Michel Claudet placed him on a 60 day paid administrative leave, until the results of the investigation are complete.
Boykin told the crowd on Saturday, that it wasn’t until news of the chief’s illness that the accusations surfaced.
“You know all last year, and the year before, in Jefferson Parish, there was a Sheriff, sick with leukemia. Not once while he was seeking treatment, were there allegations thrown against him. Not once while he was sick, did someone start a movement to recall Harry Lee,” Boykin said.
“Whoever is doing this against this man, whom I believe is one of the best chief’s we’ve ever had, better watch out. It’s a vicious attack,” Boykin said. “Several officers saw their boss’ sickness as a weakness. They’d better watch out,” he said.
Boykin has been president of the Terrebonne Parish NAACP since 1995. Since that time, through his efforts, the organization has given away more than $250,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors, both black and white, from Terrebonne Parish High Schools.
On Saturday, he received a check from the Olive Garden Restaurant in Hou
ma, in the amount of $15,000 for scholarships, and $20,000 from the Outback Restaurant, also in Houma. Gossett was the keynote speaker during Saturday’s banquet, saluting the 2008 graduating class.
“Nothing is impossible,” he told them. To the mixed race crowd, he said, “Look at yourself, how beautiful this is.”
Gossett then told the crowd, “Somewhere along on the line, this country has placed oil as its most valuable commodity. I disagree. I believe it is our children. What we plant in them is how the future will grow.”
Moore was the master of ceremonies. A graduate of South Terrebonne High School, his rec
ent work includes two Tyler Perry films, “Why Did I Get Married” and “Dairy of a Mad Black Woman”.Also during the banquet, Lafourche Parish President Craig Webre deputized Gossett with an honorary commission and Claudet presented keys to the city-parish.
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