ARE BOSSIER POLICE CHIEF-REQUESTED PROMOTIONS A GOOD THING?

Well, in the old days it was SOP, as in standard operating procedure, in Bossier City.

The "old days" being before the election of Tommy Chandler as the next mayor of Bossier.

Bossier Police Chief Shane McWilliams is trying to ram through the Bossier City Council some promotions before Chandler takes office on July 1.

At the last council meeting on May 18, the agenda was amended at the last minute to include authorization of five Bossier police officer promotions: one to sergeant, three sergeants to lieutenant and one lieutenant to captain.

The amended agenda did not comply with the 24-hour notice requirement of the Open Meetings Law, and it was pulled from the agenda.

McWilliams was not happy and demanded an explanation from the council. He was advised by Councilman Williams it would be explained to him later -- which meant in private.

Word on the street is that the promotions will be back on the council agenda for its June 1 meeting.

So what's the rush?

If the promotions are merited and a "good thing," they will still be that after July 1.

And if, in fact, one of the proposed promotions is for a relative of McWilliams, then there should be additional scrutiny by the council.

McWilliams' tenure as chief after July 1 is an open question.

He does not live in the city limits of Bossier, and he has a pending credit card judgment in excess of $14,000 in the 26th Judicial Court in Benton.

How the requested promotions play out in the sense of adoption by the lame duck council will no doubt be a factor in McWilliams’ employment as chief under the Chandler administration.

And well is should be.

A new day is coming to the Bossier City Council, and it will not be a happy one for many who have been entrenched in Bossier city hall for way too long.