Baldwin has received a grant to make improvements to the bayouside at the park.

Mayor Wayne Breaux told the board of aldermen Thursday that the state Department of Natural Resources’ Atchafalaya Basin program approved an application from the town "for improvements along Bayou Teche."

The town was granted $300,000 for construction of bulkheading at the town park where the jogging track is, fishing piers and a pavilion on the property.

Breaux said Miller Engineers estimated the cost would be covered by the grant. The town put up in-kind services for their matching share, such as the costs already applied to the boardwalk, track and park.

The board authorized Breaux to hire Miller Engineers to begin specifications for the project.

Breaux said the bulkheading and fishing pier will be standard, but some discussion will have to be held to direct Miller what form the pavilion will take.

In other business Thursday, the board upheld Police Chief Gerald Minor’s termination of another police officer.

Minor recommended the termination of Officer Dale Piggott due to numerous alleged complaints he says he has received.

The board of aldermen must approve hirings and terminations as recommended by the chief of police, who is elected.

Minor said he received alleged brutality complaints against Piggott after an incident at a Baldwin lounge while the officer was off duty. Piggott reportedly struck someone during that incident, and the other person hit him back.

The chief said he contacted state police and asked for an investigation. State police sent two detectives to Baldwin and turned their findings over to the District Attorney’s office. An assistant DA told Minor that battery charges against Piggott are pending.

"I recommend terminating him for being in a town vehicle, consuming alcohol, being at (the bar) where he was not supposed to be, and getting into a confrontation," Minor said. "This is the third complaint I’ve had."

Complaints against the officer include one at a club in Four Corners, where a woman was reportedly struck with a metal nightstick. Officer Piggott was supposedly working security at a club, which Minor said he did not know about. There was an investigation but the victim did not want to pursue charges, Minor said.

In the most recent incident, the complainant allegedly struck Piggott, but when Minor arrived to work the next morning the suspect had been released on a summons. In a case of battery on a police officer, Minor said, bond must be set by a district judge.

"I, as chief of police, am not going to tolerate the town getting sued when an officer goes out," Minor said. "I handled it accordingly. I called the state police in, they verified that the (victim) had been struck."

Minor said he won’t have officers "out in the street mishandling people when it is not necessary. Every time a suit is filed, it costs the town $5,000 for the deductible on the insurance policy. I cannot work him anymore, I’m not going to make excuses. If it wasn’t a legitimate charge, I don’t think the District Attorney’s office would say they’re getting ready to call him in and do a bill of information to file charges."

Board member Patrice Picard moved to accept Minor’s recommendation.

"You are the chief," she said. "As a professional police officer, you can’t go beating up people. Call back up, there are procedures to follow. I wouldn’t want my child beaten up."

"You know if I was on the streets and I got wrongfully stopped by somebody and I smelled alcohol on his breath, I wouldn’t listen to what he had to say," Minor agreed. "I’d probably fight him, myself."

Alderman Herbert Druilhet said that it’s up to the council to approve hiring or termination of police officers. "I want to see some resumes," he said. "I want us to screen them. I want to have police officers here in Baldwin that I can have confidence in that they’ll do their job, and that they’ll stay here. We don’t need a revolving door."

Alderman Clarence Vappie said that if the board "is going to take personal responsibility for these officers, we’re going to have to get involved."

The entire board expressed support for Minor’s recommendations, but wanted more involvement in the process of hiring officers. Minor agreed.

Druilhet seconded Picard’s motion, and the board upheld the termination.

In other business Thursday, police officer David Bruner, assistant chief, submitted his retirement to the board. He thanked the board for a rewarding opportunity while employed by the Baldwin Police Department.