Federal Judge Orders Baton Rouge Police to Revise Strip-Search Policy

BATON ROUGE — In a landmark decision on Friday, a federal judge declared the Baton Rouge Police Department's policy of conducting strip searches based on mere suspicion unconstitutional. The ruling mandates that such searches must be supported by probable cause.

U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick emphasized that the U.S. Supreme Court has established the need for probable cause to justify strip searches beyond a routine frisk or pat-down during temporary detentions. The existing BRPD policy, which allowed strip searches based on "individualized articulable reasonable suspicion," fell short of this requirement, she said.

In response to the ruling, the Baton Rouge Police Department announced its collaboration with the Parish Attorney's Office to align its policies with the court's decision.

"As I’ve stated since my appointment this January, I am committed to reviewing and updating every internal BRPD policy to ensure compliance with the law and national best practices," said BRPD Chief Thomas Morse. "This policy is no exception.”

Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome also supported the ruling, highlighting her ongoing efforts to enhance police procedures.

“We respect this ruling and remain committed to improving our Baton Rouge Police Department policies and procedures to meet the requirements under the law and national best practices in law enforcement," Broome stated. "The improvements we are seeing within BRPD demonstrate that we are making progress. Our police department will continue to review and update its policies to better serve our community.”

Attorney Ryan Thompson, who challenged the original policy, praised the court's decision, asserting it would protect the rights of all Baton Rouge residents.

"This injunction prevents further harm to not only myself, but also the public in general, as the previous policy placed anyone in jeopardy of being strip-searched," Thompson said. "The court rightly deemed the current policy unconstitutional."

Thompson criticized the BRPD's practice of detaining individuals for extended periods and subjecting them to strip searches under the guise of searching for weapons or contraband, which he argued was not constitutionally sound.

Police Chief T.J. Morse had defended the policy in June, asserting it was appropriate under a lower standard. He noted that he had never conducted a strip search during his career and emphasized that BRPD's policy, in place since 1994 and last updated in 2022, generally adhered to best practices.

The lawsuit, brought by plaintiff Jeremy Lee, alleges he was arrested without reasonable suspicion or probable cause and subjected to a brutal strip search at a facility known as the BRAVE Cave. Lee claims he sustained a fractured rib and was denied medical treatment until he was taken to a hospital.

Despite Morse's insistence at a June hearing that the department followed proper procedures, the court's decision underscores the necessity for BRPD to revise its policies to better protect citizens' constitutional rights.