Marksville Officer Wins Court Rulings Ordering Reinstatement; Federal Lawsuit Alleges Retaliation
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A Marksville police officer who was terminated following a disputed drug test has won at every level of state review, with courts ordering that he be reinstated, and the dispute has now expanded into federal court with allegations that the termination was retaliatory.
Officer Wesley Lachney was terminated by the City of Marksville in November 2024 after a drug test administered by city personnel reportedly showed positive results for controlled substances.
Court testimony during the civil service proceedings indicated that Marksville Mayor John Lemoine made the decision to terminate Lachney, acting on the recommendation of Police Chief Elster Smith.
Lachney appealed the termination to the Marksville Municipal Employees Civil Service Board, which ruled that the city did not have just cause to terminate him and ordered that he be reinstated with back pay.
That ruling was subsequently upheld by the 12th Judicial District Court and later affirmed by the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
The decisions mean the City of Marksville has now lost the case at three separate levels of review.
Although the courts have ordered reinstatement, Lachney has not yet been reinstated by the city and is not currently employed by the department.
Civil Service Board Findings
During the Civil Service Board hearing, questions were raised about how the drug test had been conducted and documented.
Testimony presented during the hearing indicated that the initial drug screening was administered at City Hall by city personnel.
According to the Board’s written findings, the city did not submit documentation confirming the positive test result during the hearing, and the Board identified unresolved questions regarding the collection, custody, storage, and analysis of the urine sample.
The Board also noted that Lachney obtained an independent drug test shortly after the city-administered test at a certified testing facility. That test returned negative results.
Based on the evidence presented during the hearing, the Civil Service Board concluded there was reasonable doubt regarding the reliability of the test results and determined that termination was not justified.
The Board ordered that Lachney be reinstated and receive back pay and benefits covering the period between November 2024 and February 2025.
Appeals by the City
Following the Civil Service Board ruling, the City of Marksville appealed the decision to the 12th Judicial District Court, which affirmed the Board’s ruling.
The city then appealed again to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
In filings submitted to the appellate court, the city argued that the Civil Service Board violated the Marksville Municipal Employees Civil Service Act and denied the city due process when it proceeded with the hearing without allowing the city’s attorney to attend and present evidence supporting the termination.
The appellate court rejected those arguments and affirmed the lower court ruling.
Potential Financial Impact
With the reinstatement order affirmed by the courts, the city is expected to cover back pay and benefits associated with the termination.
While city officials have not publicly released an official figure, some estimates suggest the cost of back wages and related expenses could approach $100,000, which would ultimately be paid using taxpayer funds.
The city has also incurred legal expenses through the district court proceedings and the appeal to the Third Circuit.
In addition, the pending federal civil rights lawsuit could create additional financial exposure for the city if the officer were to prevail in that case.
Federal Lawsuit Raises Additional Allegations
While the state proceedings focused on whether the termination followed civil service procedures, Lachney has now filed a federal civil rights lawsuit raising additional claims.
According to the federal complaint, Lachney alleges that the events surrounding his termination were retaliatory and connected to efforts to organize a police union within the department.
The lawsuit alleges that after attempting to organize a union, Lachney was passed over for promotion and later subjected to civil rights violations related to the drug testing process.
Those allegations have not yet been decided in federal court.
Questions Sent to City Officials
Avoyelles Publishing submitted questions regarding the case to Marksville City Attorney Jonathan Gaspard, who indicated he would forward those questions to the mayor and members of the city council.
City officials were given four working days to respond.
At press time, Marksville City Councilman Carl Chapman was the only elected official who submitted a response.
According to Chapman’s written response, he said he had not been included in discussions regarding the city’s decision to pursue appeals or the potential financial liability associated with the case.
After reviewing the matter further, Chapman provided the following expanded statement:
“I have many concerns about how this entire situation was handled, beginning with the faulty drug test. And I keep asking myself ‘why?’ Why are we unable to properly conduct drug tests? Why was this officer passed over for promotion? Why wasn’t the Council properly informed as the case went along, either by the mayor or the attorney? There are many questions that need to be answered.”
Chapman’s response also indicated that unexpected legal expenses related to the case could impact the city’s budget.
Other Officials Did Not Respond
At press time, Mayor John Lemoine, Police Commissioner Mike Gremillion, and other members of the Marksville City Council had not responded to the questions that were forwarded through the city attorney.
City Attorney Jonathan Gaspard stated that it would not be appropriate for him to comment while litigation remains pending.
However, he did provide a copy of the city’s appellate brief outlining the legal arguments presented on behalf of the City of Marksville.
Questions Moving Forward
With courts consistently ruling in favor of the officer and a federal lawsuit now pending, several questions remain for city leadership and taxpayers.
Those questions include the total cost of the litigation to the city, whether proper procedures were followed during the drug testing and termination process, and whether the federal court will determine that retaliation played a role in the events leading to Lachney’s firing.
Those issues are expected to be addressed as the federal case moves forward.
Timeline of Key Events
November 2024
Mayor John Lemoine terminates Officer Wesley Lachney following a drug test administered at City Hall by city personnel.
Shortly after termination
Lachney obtains an independent drug test at a certified testing facility. The result is negative.
February 2025
The Marksville Municipal Employees Civil Service Board rules the city did not have just cause for termination and orders Lachney reinstated with back pay.
September 2025
The 12th Judicial District Court affirms the Civil Service Board decision.
2026
The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal affirms the district court ruling.
2026
Lachney files a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging retaliation connected to efforts to organize a police union.
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