The following is a statement from East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome, courtesy WBRZ News 2:
Chief Carl Dabadie has submitted a letter notifying me of his decision to retire from the Baton Rouge Police Department. He has requested and I have approved annual leave time until his last day of service on Oct. 2. I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors. As the leader of this city and parish, I commend him for more than three decades of service.
I have appointed Lt. Jonny Dunnam as interim chief. He is a veteran professional with almost 29 years of law enforcement expertise in police department policy and procedures.
Dunnam began his career in uniform patrol where he spent three years before moving to the criminal investigations division as a burglary detective. After spending eight years in criminal investigations, he began a 14-year stint in internal affairs as an investigator and supervisor. He has since spent the last three years as the department's public information office commander.
Dunnam, a Baton Rouge native and graduate of Tara High School, is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy (Session 257). He holds a graduate certificate in criminal justice education from the University of Virginia and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix.
The interim chief will not be applying for the permanent position. A national search for a permanent chief will commence after the application process is opened. We will work with Human Resources and Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service on the process to advertise and fill the position. The process will begin immediately.