Houma police chief investigation over

It’s been over four months since interim Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis had sexual harassment charges brought against him, and the parish has concluded the allegations to be unfounded.

According to Terrebonne Parish manager Al Levron, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the charge on Duplantis on May 3, 2010, and by law, the identity of the complainant and the specific allegations remain confidential.

“We had a duty then to perform an investigation,” Levron said. “And we had to determine based on the investigation whether allegations were sustained or founded. We went through expensive process to make sure investigator was independent.”

The investigation was conducted by former Public Safety Director Ralph Mitchell with participation from parish legal department, according to a press release. The parish hired private investigator interviewed the complainant, Duplantis and 10 other witnesses.

“The findings of the investigator were reviewed and accepted by the parish administration and no further action is intended at this time,” Levron wrote in a press release.

“I believe that these allegations were timed to cause me embarrassment and I assured the council at that time I could be cleared of charges. I’m happy to say that I was cleared” Duplantis said.

And now that he is cleared, Duplantis is looking ahead.

“We have been making a lot of progress here and I’m glad it’s behind us and we can all just move forward,” he said.

The initial complaint against Duplantis was made a female government employee shortly after the parish reached a settlement between several female parish employees and former police chief Pat Boudreaux.

Boudreaux took a medical leave shortly afterward and Duplantis was appointed acting chief, a role he’s held for nearly a year.