Ponchatoula police chief suggests new ordinance for big crowds during Strawberry Festival weekend

PONCHATOULA, La. (WGNO) — Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson recently proposed an ordinance to the city council that would prevent gatherings of 30 or more at city parks.

During the city hall meeting where it was set to be voted on, Layrisson asked to have it removed from the agenda in favor of an ordinance already in place that allows large groups to gather under certain conditions.

“There’s a special events permit ordinance that any event of 50 or more has to apply for a special events permit through the police department,” Layrisson said.

The original ordinance frustrated many in the Black community as they believed it was racially targeting them and their traditions that weekend.

“We are part of this city, so you know for you to have an ordinance to stop certain events in parks while the whole city was having the fest would’ve been a whole misfortune,” Ponchatoula resident John Smith said.

When they entered the city hall, some were expecting a long night of debating the proposed ordinance, but they were pleasantly surprised at how quickly the situation was resolved.

“I was longing to be battle tested, but we weren’t battle tested, so that’s a good thing,” Ponchatoula resident Charles Walker said.

Layrisson says no discrimination was intended in the ordinance and that he was only looking to prevent large gatherings of people not from Ponchatoula because of a lack of manpower at the department. He says he’s willing to work with any force that will help him through that weekend.

“We’re just going to keep reaching out to other agencies and ask for more manpower. Sheriff’s office, state police, whomever we can get,” Layrisson said.

Latest Posts