APR•St TAMMANY has obtained a Pearl River Police Department policy titled Political Activity & Candidacy, and the timing raises serious public questions — especially with campaign-style advertising tied to a Town Fourth of July function at Town Hall, promoting a “come meet” opportunity for a candidate running for police chief.
According to the document, the policy was originally issued on January 1, 2011 and revised on March 1, 2026.
That means the candidacy rule appears to have remained in place for roughly 15 years before being changed this year.
The section dealing with employees running for political office was marked through / redacted. That section previously stated that employees running for political office within the jurisdiction of the Pearl River Police Department had to resign before announcing their candidacy.
That raises serious public questions:
Why was this policy changed in 2026?
Who requested the change?
Was the policy changed before or after current department employees began preparing to run for elected office?
Did this change create a benefit, advantage, or appearance of favoritism for employees already inside the Pearl River Police Department?
And with a campaign-style “come meet” appearance being advertised at a Town Hall Fourth of July event, will any current department employee, candidate, or campaign supporter be on duty, in uniform, using Town property, or being paid by taxpayers while participating in campaign-related activity?
This is not about telling anyone who to vote for.
This is about transparency.
This is about fairness.
This is about whether taxpayer-funded positions, uniforms, vehicles, Town events, and public authority are being kept separate from campaign politics.
When a rule stands for 15 years and then changes during an election year, the public has every right to ask why.
APR•St TAMMANY will continue reviewing records, asking questions, and reporting what the documents show.
Facts over rumors. Transparency over favors.