BATON ROUGE, La. – Faye Morrison, the attorney who headed the legal division at Louisiana State Police (LSP) during the controversial Ronald Greene case, has been reinstated to a top position within the agency. State Police payroll records confirm that Morrison was promoted to General counsel 2 on January 14, 2025, and is now earning an annual salary of $141,564.80. This promotion follows her demotion in June 2021, a move that occurred amidst the escalating fallout surrounding Greene’s death. The decision to elevate Morrison, given her past role and the intense scrutiny surrounding the Greene case, has ignited a fresh wave of controversy and renewed calls for accountability within the LSP.

The promotion of Morrison raises questions given her previous role and the controversies surrounding the Greene case.Her reassignment to attorney 3 in 2021, which included a $56,639 pay cut, was initiated by Colonel Lamar Davis, according to sources familiar with the matter. This action was taken as the agency faced intense scrutiny regarding the circumstances surrounding Greene’s death and the subsequent handling of the investigation. The demotion was widely perceived as a response to mounting public pressure and allegations of a cover-up.

Faye morrison
Faye Morrison (LSP)

Morrison’s initial removal from her leadership position stemmed from the exposure of emails she sent approximately a year and a half after Greene’s death. These emails, brought to light by Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto, revealed correspondence between Morrison and then-Troop F Commander John Peters regarding Greene’s death being initially reported as a crash. The revelation of these emails added fuel to the already raging fire of public outrage and intensified demands for openness and justice.

The content of these emails sparked considerable concern. Peters wrote to Morrison, “Rough estimates indicate the impacts, sudden speed reduction and violent rotation of Greene’s vehicle generated approximately 19g’s of force…The detectives proved we did not cause the death.” Morrison responded, “…This will definitely be critically important re cause of death and damages.” The exchange suggested an attempt to frame Greene’s death as a result of the crash itself, rather than the actions of the state troopers.

The timing of this email exchange, occurring when questions about Greene’s death were already surfacing, raised concerns about the motivations behind the interaction. The subsequent release of body camera footage the following year revealed a stark contrast to the initial narrative. The video showed greene alive and apologetic after exiting his vehicle, before being subjected to a brutal beating that ultimately led to his death. The discrepancy between the initial reports and the video evidence further fueled accusations of a cover-up and sparked widespread condemnation of the LSP’s handling of the case.

The Committee Hearing

In response to the growing controversy,Governor John Bel Edwards established a committee to investigate the knowledge and actions of individuals within the State Police regarding the Greene case. Faye Morrison was called to testify before this committee in March 2022, during what was described as a heated and contentious hearing. The hearing provided a platform for lawmakers to directly confront Morrison and other LSP officials about their roles in the greene case and the alleged cover-up.

During the hearing,lawmakers expressed strong criticism of Morrison and other top LSP officials.Representative Jason Hughes stated directly to Morrison, “So many current and former members of the top brass have blood on your hands, and that’s just the facts.” He and other committee members questioned her extensively about her knowledge of the events surrounding Greene’s death and the subsequent investigation.The lawmakers’ pointed questions and sharp rebukes underscored the gravity of the situation and the widespread public anger over the Greene case.

Morrison denied any knowledge of top leaders sanitizing their cell phones – restoring them to factory settings – despite admitting she helped write the retention schedule for public records at State Police. Representative Hughes openly questioned the veracity of her testimony,stating,“You made a comment where you said you never had a situation where evidence was destroyed which prompted you to implement this policy over cell phones. I would conjecture that’s not true.” The exchange highlighted the deep skepticism surrounding Morrison’s testimony and the broader issue of transparency within the LSP.

Morrison defended her actions during the hearing, asserting that she had no involvement in the sanitization of cell phones and was unaware that it had occurred. “I just wanted to preserve what had been provided to us without any comment on it,” morrison told lawmakers. “Other than yes it does go to causation,but without providing it to anyone or further any narrative.” Her defense, though, did little to quell the concerns of lawmakers and the public, who remained deeply skeptical of her account of events.

Federal Investigation Finds Rights Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an extensive Pattern and Practice investigation into the LSP following Greene’s death. This investigation was prompted by allegations of racial bias and unfair targeting of minorities by state troopers. The federal investigation aimed to determine whether the LSP had engaged in systemic misconduct and whether its policies and practices violated the constitutional rights of citizens.

The DOJ’s findings were critical, concluding that LSP “engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” The report further detailed that state police “uses excessive force, including unjustified uses of tasers, escalation of minor incidents, and use of force on people who did not pose a threat.” The DOJ’s findings painted a damning picture of the LSP and its culture, highlighting the need for sweeping reforms to address the systemic issues that contributed to the Greene case and other instances of alleged misconduct.

State Police Response to Morrison’s Promotion

in response to inquiries regarding Morrison’s promotion, a spokesman for Louisiana State Police issued a statement, saying: “With the restructuring of positions within the Office of Legal Affairs to better serve the department, the position was posted and open to all qualified applicants. Mrs. Morrison has served the Department of Public Safety for nearly 15 years with no sustained discipline.Her professionalism, knowledge, and extensive experience more than qualify her for this position.Executive Counsel jason hessick, Colonel Hodges, and the entire Office of Legal Affairs have the utmost faith and confidence in Mrs. Morrison’s abilities and dedication to our department.” The statement, though, did little to appease critics who argued that Morrison’s involvement in the Greene case should have disqualified her from consideration for the promotion.