Louisiana Town Gets Insurance Quote to Cover Police Liability

January 24, 2014

The Sorrento Police Department in Louisiana is still without liability insurance but the town council has one insurance proposal to consider and a second proposal expected within the week.

The Advocate reported that on Jan. 21, council members unanimously postponed action on a proposed $34,937 annual insurance policy from Indian Harbor Insurance Co.

Harold Williams, a broker with 1st Team Consulting Group, of Baton Rouge, told the Town Council that the policy covers the Police Department’s two officers, Chief Earl Theriot Jr. and Assistant Police Chief Ricky Smith, and any officers to be added later to the force.

Smith introduced Williams because Theriot did not attend the meeting.

Smith later said Theriot did not attend because he was meeting with his attorney to discuss a federal civil lawsuit filed Jan. 17 by an Ascension Parish woman who claims on Nov. 1, Theriot gave her vodka and forced her to give him oral sex at the town Police Department.

The suit names Theriot individually and as police chief of the town.

Williams told the Town Council that the policy includes a $25,000 deductible and limits policy coverage to $500,000 for each “wrongful act,” with a $500,000 annual aggregate limit, according to the liability insurance quote.

The $34,937 annual policy does not include vehicle insurance coverage, but Williams said he is working to provide the Town Council the cost of such a policy.

Anny said the $500,000 limit for wrongful acts is comparable with the limit from Risk Management Inc., the Police Department’s former insurer.

On Oct. 21, the Police Department’s insurer, Risk Management Inc., informed the town in a written letter that it was ending liability coverage for the department’s officers and its vehicles effective midnight Nov. 19

Topics Louisiana Law Enforcement

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