What was expected to be the first open hearing of the Morgan City Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board to hear complaints of misconduct against the police chief was held in closed session Wednesday.

The board agreed with the police chief’s request to continue its investigation behind closed doors in executive session after board attorney Russel Cremaldi explained at the outset of Wednesday’s hearing that Police Chief Jim Christy had requested to have testimony in the investigation taken in closed session.

Initially, Christy and his lawyer, Nick LaRocca Jr. of Morgan City, had requested public testimony.

LaRocca said the request for public testimony was made when it appeared the board was operating without a fixed set of rules or guidelines.

Board member Paul Harvey maintained that the board has not adopted any rules other than what was already in place. And he noted that 16th Judicial District Court Judge John Conery also had ruled that the board’s established set of rules was good enough to proceed with the investigation.

The board’s chairman, MCPD Lt. Mike Marino, was required to recuse himself for the duration of the hearing during that court appearance.

LaRocca said Wednesday that the initial request to hold the hearing in public was an effort to "avoid governmental misconduct."

"Since then, however, a set of rules has emerged and a suitable procedure has evolved," he added.

LaRocca said the board’s deliberations in executive session are acceptable as long as he and Christy were present for them.

He stressed that there would be no cross-examination of witnesses during the closed session.

Cremaldi said he felt the board’s previous executive sessions have been productive to this point.

"We’ve found that having them in closed session allows the testimony to be given more freely and in a more concise manner," he said.

After more discussion the board entertained a motion by Donald Valentine, seconded by Harvey, to proceed with Christy’s investigation in executive session.

It passed unanimously, 4-0.

The board is deliberating complaints filed by nine police officers and 31 citizens of alleged misconduct within the police department.

The board received a six-page letter dated March 21 requesting an internal and administrative investigation into past MCPD incidents.

Named specifically were Lt. Michael Crochet, who has been with the department for 17-plus years, and Christy, who is in his sixth year as chief.

One complaint focused on a 2004 incident in which more than $7,000 was reported missing from an MCPD evidence storage room.

In addition, Crochet was named in unspecified sexual harassment charges.

In the 2004 incident involving the missing $7,000, Christy turned over the case to the State Police’s Bureau of Investigation.

The results of that investigation were turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, where it has remained dormant.