US court to review Baton Rouge Police Department’s strip-search policy

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A federal judge will hear arguments next week over the Baton Rouge Police Department’s strip search policy.

In April, attorney Thomas Frampton filed a preliminary injunction on behalf of his client seeking to end the current policy of strip searches without arrest. Jeremy Lee files a complaint after being searched and beaten by police officers.

“Every day this policy is enforced poses a danger to the people of Baton Rouge,” Frampton said.

On New Year’s Day 2020, Baton Rouge police officers searched Clarence Green and his 16-year-old brother in broad daylight after a traffic stop. The police allegedly exposed their private spaces in search of drugs. Police then entered Green’s home without a warrant. He sued the BRPD and won. The East Baton Rouge Metro Council awarded Green $35,000. Frampton represented Green in this trial.

“This was not constitutional policing, this is more like sexual assault,” Frampton said.

Since the incident, several lawsuits have been filed against BRPD alleging illegal strip searches. A handful of officers have been disciplined, with some facing possible charges. The story went national.

In 2023, the FBI opened an investigation into the BRPD after several lawsuits were filed over illegal strip searches and beatings at the so-called “Brave Cave”, a narcotics processing facility. The BRPD and Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome closed the building. At a 2023 press conference, Weston Broome said the building “will remain permanently closed and will not be used for policing activities in the future.” The Street Crimes Unit was also disbanded.

Current BRPD policy allows officers to strip search someone if they have reasonable suspicion of a crime. The lawsuits allege that the current policy violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures.

We asked BRPD Police Chief Thomas Morse if he thinks the current policy is unconstitutional.

“No, I don’t think it’s unconstitutional at all,” Morse said.

Last month, Morse demanded that all research be documented on paper. He said the policy is not perfect.

“Are there certain things that we’re maybe looking at adjusting with the policy? Of course,” Morse said.

Morse also said he was waiting for the BRPD’s search policy to be “legally reviewed” before making any further changes.

The federal hearing on the injunction will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at 9:30 a.m., in downtown Baton Rouge at the Russell B. Long Federal Building and the United States Courthouse.

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