Published by SOBO.live on August 7, 2025
A SOBO.live Special Investigative Report
Story by Wes Merriott
Bossier City, LA — As scrutiny over Mayor Tommy Chandler’s administration continues to mount, new evidence has surfaced exposing widespread and potentially illegal use of city-owned vehicles by senior officials. Photos and firsthand accounts from a town hall event in South Bossier, hosted by Councilman Cliff Smith, reveal blatant violations of Louisiana state law governing public vehicle identification. And the violations appear to start at the top.
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 49:121, every vehicle owned by the state or any political subdivision, including cities, is required to display the name of the public body to which it belongs. This must be done through decals, stenciling, or painting on the vehicle’s front doors. The law exists to ensure transparency, prevent misuse of government resources, and make it clear to the public when a vehicle is being operated on their dime.
Only vehicles used for undercover law enforcement, such as crime prevention or investigations, are exempt, and even then, only when marking the vehicle would hinder its effectiveness. When government officials ignore this law, they not only break it, they also erode public trust and remove the visible accountability that distinguishes public servants from private citizens.
Chandler’s Unmarked Tahoe: Emblems Removed?
Mayor Chandler was recently spotted at the East Bank District attending the “Ambush” concert. He arrived in a white Chevy Tahoe Premier, equipped with 22” black “DUB” rims, subtle emergency lights, and zero city markings. The vehicle is city-owned.
But in October of 2024, Chandler was observed driving the same Tahoe in downtown Shreveport—with the gold Bossier City insignia clearly visible on the doors.
The implication is direct and serious: Mayor Chandler appears to have personally ordered or approved the removal of city decals from his assigned government vehicle. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 49:121, this could be a serious violation of state law unless the vehicle is used for criminal investigative purposes—which mayoral duties do not qualify for.
This act isn’t just a matter of oversight. It’s bold, deliberate, and emblematic of an administration that treats public property as personal privilege.
Senior Staff Follow Suit
The violations don’t stop with the mayor. At the South Bossier town hall on Monday evening, multiple senior city officials arrived in unmarked or questionably assigned government vehicles:
Amanda Nottingham, Chief Administrative Officer, drove a gray Chevy Tahoe with emergency lights and personal plates. No city markings were visible. A source at city hall confirmed this was a city-owned Tahoe.
Louis Johnson, Public Information Officer, arrived in a black unmarked Tahoe, also without any city decals.
Richard Ray, Assistant City Attorney and a part-time employee, drove a white Ford Expedition that was properly decaled with Bossier City insignia and markings. But access to a city vehicle was explicitly denied to him by the previous administration, and nothing in his part-time compensation authorizes city vehicle use.
All three vehicles are city-owned. None of the positions held by Nottingham, Johnson, or Mayor Chandler involve undercover or investigatory law enforcement duties that would justify exemption from the state’s public vehicle marking laws.
State and Federal Law: Clear and Binding
Under La. R.S. 49:121, all government-owned vehicles must be marked with the name of the agency or department to which they are assigned. Only vehicles used for “crime prevention and detection or similar investigative work” are exempt, and only if markings would hinder their use. These exemptions do not apply to administrative, communications, or legal staff.
Each day a vehicle is used without proper markings constitutes a separate violation of state law. Furthermore, under La. R.S. 24:523, city officials who know—or should know—of the misuse of public assets are required by law to report the matter in writing to the Legislative Auditor and the District Attorney.
Failure to report such misuse is itself a violation.
Federally, misuse or inaccurate reporting of private use of public vehicles becomes another issue entirely. Under IRS regulations, the personal use of a government vehicle by a public employee is considered a taxable fringe benefit unless it meets specific exemptions.
When a city-owned vehicle is used for non-official purposes—such as commuting, attending private events, or general personal errands—those miles must be tracked and reported as imputed income on the employee’s W-2 form. Failure to document or report that usage constitutes a violation of federal tax law and could expose both the employee and the city to IRS penalties.
For elected officials like Mayor Chandler, or appointed staff such as a CAO or PIO, any use of city vehicles outside the scope of official business may create personal tax liability unless the value is properly reported or reimbursed, according to IRS Publication 15-B. The city’s failure to enforce these standards could be interpreted as facilitating or concealing tax evasion.
No Oversight, No Accountability
Mayor Chandler’s laissez-faire approach to city governance is now directly under fire. By personally driving an unmarked city vehicle with removed insignia, Chandler has modeled and encouraged a disregard for state law. His staff appear to be following that example, converting government-owned vehicles into unmarked, unsupervised perks.
This isn’t merely a technicality or bureaucratic misstep. It’s a serious breach of public trust and a possible misuse of public property, exposing the city to civil liability and opening the door to ethics complaints.
Pattern of Conduct, Not an Isolated Case
The vehicle misuse scandal is just the latest in a series of missteps by Chandler’s administration:
Chandler recently proposed a property tax increase to fund employee raises, without informing the City Council beforehand. The council was blindsided by the proposal and rejected it via social media outright. Later, the Mayor backtracked his stance and stated the proposed tax increase was “just in case” it was necessary.
Earlier in 2025, taxpayer funds were allegedly used to pave private parking lots at businesses with political connections. The work was done without council authorization or proper bid processes. The City Council initiated an official inquiry into the matter, and are expected to publish their findings soon.
What Happens Now?
Bossier City residents deserve immediate answers. The following actions are needed without delay:
Immediate audit of all city-assigned vehicles and their current usage.
Removal or re-marking of all non-exempt city vehicles in compliance with state law.
Public explanation from the mayor regarding the removal of decals from his assigned vehicle.
City Council intervention, including potential censure, investigation, and demand for policy overhaul.
Mandatory reporting to the Legislative Auditor under R.S. 24:523.
Final Word
This appears to be not just a clerical error or misunderstanding of rules but rather a systemic breakdown in oversight, driven by a mayor who comes off as unwilling or unable to follow the laws he swore to uphold.
What should people think when they see the Mayor has removed the decals of his public vehicle? The obvious conclusion is that the rules don’t apply to him. If left unchallenged, that mindset will continue to trickle down through City Hall… until accountability is lost entirely.
The law is clear. What remains to be seen is whether anyone in Bossier City government has the will to enforce it.