Vance Olivier, a longtime Lafayette Police officer with management experience, will serve as the interim police chief of Broussard.
The Broussard City Council voted unanimously to appoint Olivier as the interim police chief during a special meeting Monday evening. A week earlier, the council and mayor interviewed Olivier and James Rogers Jr., a Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office investigator and the other candidate recommended for the position by a committee of Broussard residents.
"With more than 30 years in law enforcement, Vance’s qualifications are exemplary,” said Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque in a prepared statement. “He has my complete support, and I look forward to working with him, focusing on the future and safety of our great city.”
Olivier will serve in the position until the fall of 2022. That's when voters will elect a police chief to replace Brannon Decou, who served in the position for 20 years before announcing his retirement last month. Decou was elected to serve through 2022 but resigned June 1 after former officers accused him of sexual harassment and workplace retaliation. During the resulting investigation, the city council voted to fire Christopher Galvez, his assistant police chief, for failing to act on sexual harassment complaints.
Olivier plans to begin in his new role next Monday. He will appoint a new assistant police chief in the coming weeks.
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