September 15, 2026 | APR•St Tammany
PEARL RIVER, La. Pearl River Police Lieutenant John Polk previously claimed he often works as much as 100 hours a week, a statement used to emphasize his full time commitment while campaigning for police chief. Polk’s campaign currently identifies him as a PRPD lieutenant and candidate for chief.
But during Tuesday night’s Pearl River town hall meeting, the department’s own leadership described something very different.
A resident asked Major Fransico Dean about claims that officers were working 60 or 70 hours every week. Dean explained that officers receive overtime after working more than 86 hours during a two week pay period.
The resident then asked directly, “They don’t have anyone working 70 hours a week?”
Dean answered, “Not to my knowledge.”
Mayor Joe Lee also credited Dean during the meeting for pulling back police department overtime.
That matters because Polk did not previously say he once worked an unusually long week. He was quoted as saying he “often works as much as 100 hours a week,” while discussing his full time status and saying he did not want another officer left working alone.
Tuesday night’s statement from Major Dean directly calls that characterization into question. According to Dean, he is not aware of any officer currently working even 70 hours a week.
Whether Polk’s previously reported 100 hour claim is supported by the facts is ultimately something the department’s time sheets and payroll records can answer.
For a candidate campaigning on leadership, integrity and accountability, the numbers should speak for themselves.
