A Louisiana police chief last Wednesday issued a public letter where he admitted to infidelity after he and his wife were shot by a subordinate involved in their love triangle. Per the New York Post, the affair allegedly involved Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc and Officer Savannah Butler.
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office in a statement said Butler shot the police chief and his wife Crystal LeBlanc outside her residence on December 22. Crystal LeBlanc, who is also a deputy with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, had gone to Butler’s home to speak with her husband when the shooting occurred, Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz in the statement.
The sheriff said Graig LeBlanc was inside Butler’s home when his wife arrived, adding that the police chief came out to talk to her after she knocked on Butler’s door. Guidroz said an argument between the LeBlancs subsequently ensued before Butler came to the doorway “armed with a gun.”
The statement said that Graig LeBlanc was shot in the hand when he placed it in front of the gun in an attempt to retrieve it. The bullet subsequently penetrated the police chief’s hand before hitting Crystal LeBlanc in the hand.
Following the shooting, the married couple went to the hospital for treatment. Authorities also said that investigators established Butler “cleaned up the scene to cover up evidence prior to notifying the Sheriff’s Office which constituted the charge of Obstruction of Justice.”
Butler, who surrendered to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office on January 1, also faces other charges including two counts of negligent injury and one count of illegal discharge of a firearm. She was later released after posting a $22,000 bond, authorities said.
Crystal LeBlanc, on the other hand, was issued a trespass summons for entering Butler’s property, Guidroz said, adding that the police chief and Butler were placed on administrative leave by their “respective agencies” pending the outcome of an investigation. Graig LeBlanc is also not facing any pending charges, authorities said, per the New York Post.
In the wake of the incident, Chief Graig LeBlanc released a public letter where he touched on his affair. “My actions have caused pain and distress, not only to my family but also to our community,” he stated.
“I must acknowledge the role I played in this unfortunate situation. I have failed in my commitment to uphold the standards expected of the Chief of Police and, more importantly, failed the trust you have placed in me. Infidelity is a breach of not only the personal commitments I made but also the professional standards we all expect from those in public service.”
The police chief in the statement, however, did not specifically make mention of his wife or Butler. Graig LeBlanc said he is opening an internal review in his department and is dedicated to winning back the trust within the community.
“I want to express my sincere apologies to my wife, my family, all parties involved, and to each and every member of our community,” he said.
