Thibodaux board can't act on harassment complaint

The Thibodaux Board of Civil Service has ruled it does not have authority to act on complaints by a police captain who claims Mayor Tommy Eschete and Police Chief Scott Silverii conspired to harass and demote him.

The Daily Comet reports (http://bit.ly/NmD0Fh) the complaint, filed by Calvin Cooks, claims Silverii and other officers spread rumors implicating Cooks in the slashing of tires on police vehicles in 2011.

The complaint also claims Eschete and Silverii conspired to remove Cooks from his role as assistant police chief. Cooks was appointed assistant chief in 2009, but Silverii eliminated the position when he took office in 2010.

The board did not rule on whether Cooks' claims had merit.