(WBRZ News 2) Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie is leaving the helm of the Baton Rouge Police department, WBRZ Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto has learned.
EBR Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome had been looking to hire a new chief since she was elected last year.
Multiple sources told the WBRZ Investigative Unit that Dabadie submitted a letter, alerting the mayor to his decision to leave the department Monday. Monday was also scheduled to be his last day, sources said.
WBRZ was first to report details of the chief's decision to step down and the mayor commented on the change during a news conference on another matter.
It was during her remarks about a new tax to fund transportation needs when WBRZ.com reported the chief's decision. At the end of the news conference, the mayor revealed she received Dabadie's letter earlier in the morning.
“It is my understanding… that Chief Dabadie has rendered a letter of retirement," the mayor said. "As I have said consistently, Chief Dabadie is an honorable man... I will continue to say that. He has served our city and our parish as police chief and, certainly, many people appreciate his contribution to law enforcement," the mayor continued.