I-TEAM: Officer Arrested for Domestic Violence Hired by BRPD

A Former City Constable with a Domestic Abuse Arrest Now Works as a Police Officer in Baton Rouge

A former city constable from Baton Rouge, who was arrested for domestic abuse and child endangerment, has been hired as a police officer by the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD). This decision has sparked significant concern among local residents and legal experts.

Colby Burns officially began his new role on Monday, July 28, and is now patrolling the streets of Baton Rouge. When questioned about the hiring decision, BRPD officials confirmed that Burns started work but did not provide further details. They stated that they believe the charges against him were expunged, though there is currently no record of the arrest in the court system.

However, jail booking records from 2021 show that Burns was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Ryan Thompson, the lawyer representing the alleged victim in the 2021 case, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the prosecutor’s office.

“No one from the prosecutor’s office contacted my client to see if the case should proceed criminally,” said Thompson. He also criticized the apparent lack of transparency in the legal process.

The WAFB I-TEAM reached out to the District Attorney Hillar Moore’s office for more information but received a limited response. “We are not in possession of any records subject to public access and cannot provide any further comment at this time,” said Moore.

Thompson is particularly concerned about the message this sends to the public. “The appearance is that if someone wears a badge, they are above the law and get special treatment,” he said. “They get a different level of due process, and that’s not what this is about.”

Burns’ former fiancée described the incident that led to his arrest in November 2021. She claimed that Burns refused to leave the house where she was staying and pushed her, throwing her cell phone on the bed when she tried to call for help. She locked herself in the bathroom and waited for authorities to arrive. At the time, Burns’ two children were present in the home, according to arrest documents.

Burns posted a $3,000 bond after the 2021 arrest. The victim later released a statement expressing her frustration with how the case was handled. She mentioned that she was denied access to follow-up information and was never notified of a second hearing. As a result, she was unable to speak on her own behalf during the proceedings.

She also expressed deep disappointment upon learning that Burns had been hired by the BRPD. “This is frustrating,” she said. “In addition to terms discussed in court that were not fulfilled, his record has been expunged. I’ve been left without access to documentation, and without answers about how the situation was resolved, or how it was allowed to quietly disappear from record over the past four years.”

Her statement emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency. “This isn’t about spite—it’s about accountability, transparency, and community safety. It should never be this easy for a violent incident involving a sworn officer to be buried. It should never be this difficult for a victim to access the truth. And it should never be acceptable for a police department to quietly absorb someone with a known history of domestic violence and child endangerment.”

She concluded by stating that victims deserve to have their experiences acknowledged and protected, not erased. “If this is the standard for who’s entrusted to protect and serve in Baton Rouge, then the city—and the public—have a right to know.”