The decision to phase out the Homer Police Department continues to stir up concerns.

A petition for an injunction was filed Tuesday by current Marshal and Police Chief, Russell Mills.

Earlier this month, the town's council decided to keep two of its top-ranking policemen until August, while electing to demote Chief Russell Mills to city marshal. The change will tremendously drop Mills’ salary to roughly $400 a month.

The decision is set to go into effect, March 1, 2013.

The defendants noted in the petition for injunction are the Town of Homer and Mayor Alecia Smith.

The injunction states that nothing in the town's charter specifies who has authority to terminate police officers or deputies hired by the Marshal/Chief of Police.
Also attributed to the town charter, the Mayor and/or the Board of Selectman do not have the authority to abolish the Homer Police Department.

The injunction also claims that the town is bound by the terms of the Lawrason Act, a Louisiana law that limits the duties of a mayor when a Chief of Police is elected.

At a special meeting, the council made the decision to disband the police department following discussion of the town’s expenditures and said financial woes, alongside a heavy raise recently given to a police department captain by the council.

Municipal government also decided to eliminate term limits for the mayor and the council during the special meeting. 

A hearing is scheduled for next week at the Claiborne Parish courthouse.

An additional community meeting is expected next week for public input on the issue.