Acadiana's News Leader Mermentau Police Chief Position Vacant

The Village of Mermentau no longer has a police chief.  On Monday State District Judge Marlyn ruled 23 year old Amber Doubois was in violation of state law because she was living in Crowley and not the Village of Mermentau where she was recently elected Chief of Police.

State law requires those who hold office to reside in the area they represent. Chief Dubois admitted she spent time in Crowley but claimed she also spent time in Mermentau with her mother.

The residency issue came up after Dubois was arrested last December on what she claimed were trumped up charges following a family squabble. As a consequence Dubois's police car, the only one the department has, was towed back to Mermentau where it's has been kept under lock and key by town officials ever since.

Dubois has five days to appeal Judge Castle's ruling before her office is declared officially vacant. In the mean time Dubois says she intends to file a complaint against those responsible for preventing her from using her squad car.