Youngsville Police Chief Gets Power To Pick Assistant

The Youngsville City Council has adopted a resolution that would give the police chief the power to appoint his second-in-command even after the city implements a fire and police civil service board.

Mayor Wilson Viator says the move toward a civil service board is due to the city's population growth during the last census.

Assistant Chief Byron Romero says the resolutions would only go into effect if state Sen. Page Cortez introduces and successfully passes legislation in the upcoming session that will allow cities to bypass the civil service requirement for the post.

Romero, who was appointed to the position late last year, said he and other officers within the department will be grandfathered into their positions.