Stewart v. Department of Police
Stewart v. Department of Police
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, a training recruit of the New Orleans Police Department, appeals from a judgment of the Civil Service Commission affirming his dismissal from the department.
The Commission concluded, based on credibility, that plaintiff “had the odor of alcohol on his breath during recruit training
We reject plaintiff’s contention that the department failed to carry the burden of proof necessary to support the dismissal.
Two recruits
A range officer instructor
On the other hand, two witnesses
In Sturken v. The Department of Streets, No. 9229 in a recent expression from this court, we said:
“Although the scope of our review extends to law and facts, we are reluctant to disturb a factual determination by the Civil Service Commission which has, in this case, concluded that the department failed to carry that burden of proof necessary to support its dismissal of Sturken. Though we find support in the record for the conclusion that Sturken did report to work in an intoxicated condition and, as a result, was impaired in the performance of his usual duties, we also find that the record will support a contrary finding. We feel compelled to exercise the same degree of judicial restraint as would be the case where a trial judge has reached certain factual conclusions with which we disagree but for which we find support in the record. Therefore, the judgment is affirmed.”
The evidence considered, we conclude the record supports the result reached by the Commission and the appointing authority. Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
. Copy art. 48(b) reads as follows:
“A member shall not report for duty under the influence of alcohol or have the odor of alcohol on his breath. While off duty, a member shall not consume alcoholic beverages to the extent that his behavior becomes obnoxious, disruptive or disorderly, or which renders him unfit to report for his next regular tour of duty.”
. John A. Moran and Donald Lee Saucier.
. Samuel T. Palumbo.
. Cleveland Lloyd Crawford.
. Sgt. Donald Duke, firearm instructor and Arnold Green, Jr., the squad advisor.
. Ricardo Gillette.
. Johnny Singleton.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.