Jury indicts Brusly chief

A West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Brusly Police Chief Jamie Whaley on charges of theft and malfeasance in office Thursday.

Whaley faces an arraignment hearing in 18th Judicial District Court on May 6.

Whaley surrendered to West Baton Rouge Parish authorities on Jan. 23 after he was accused of using a town-issued credit card to purchase gasoline for his personal truck and boat.

Whaley, 36, was booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail on counts of theft and malfeasance in office following an investigation by the state Inspector General’s Office and the FBI.

Whaley, who is serving his third term as elected police chief, receives a $1,000 monthly vehicle allowance from the town, in addition to his $37,400 annual salary.

Whaley, the mayor and Town Council had agreed Whaley would use his personal vehicle for police duties and the $1,000 monthly stipend was intended to cover all expenses associated with the use of his personal vehicle, including its monthly car note, insurance, fuel and any maintenance and repairs.

Whaley is accused of using the fleet services credit card to charge $1,120 in gasoline between Jan. 2, 2013, and Jan. 3.

Whaley told authorities he was issued a fleet services credit card for various reasons.

He has said he occasionally uses a marked police unit, is called upon to fuel generators during power outages and fuels department-owned utility vehicles used at football games and other events.

However, the police chief admitted he had illegally used the credit card after he was shown a spreadsheet, receipts and video evidence, according to his arrest warrant.

Whaley met with the mayor Jan. 17 and wrote a check for $1,122.75 for the transactions.