With only four fatal accidents over the last five years occurring on the longest bridge in the world, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Police Department has kept motorists safe. But state Rep. John LaBruzzo of Metairie has authored a bill that would eliminate the Causeway Police and put the Louisiana State Police in charge.

But his intentions are not based on safety merits, which he admitted were impeccable. Instead, LaBruzzo wants to make the private operations of the police department brought forth so the public can better monitor the department.

“I’ve had some retired Causeway Police tell me there are some concerns with the way it was being operated,” LaBruzzo said. “It’s basically a closed system that does a lot of what they want to do without a lot of oversight.” LaBruzzo’s House Bill 1342 states law enforcement services on the Causeway and the Huey P. Long Bridge, which is also patrolled by Causeway Police, beginning July 1 of next year will be patrolled by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

The bill will be heard Monday by the Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee.

This has the 32 officers employed by the bridge in angst over their jobs, but LaBruzzo said nothing would change for them except their uniforms and cruiser paint color. He said the officers would remain working on the bridges, and their salaries, along with retirement funds, would also remain the same or possibly increase.

But Causeway Police Chief Felix Loicano, who opposes the bill, is dumbstruck by its creation.

“When I look at safety, when I look at the quality of service that this agency performs, I don’t see where a lot of improvements are going to be noted,” Loicano said. “If it can be proven to us that this bill would improve safety, that would be one issue.”

Loicano also said he believes the State Police to be an exceptional law enforcement agency, but he doesn’t fathom the agency could handle such a large feat, especially with the 10-plus years of experience some of his officers have on the bridge.

He exampled the heavy fog the bridge often experiences and the precision his officers exude with the treacherous conditions. Loicano said the personnel employed by the bridge are committed to the bridge and can be called upon at a moment’s notice. He doesn’t feel the State Police has the capacity for that kind of commitment right now.

LaBruzzo predicts opposition to the bill will arise because of what he calls the commission’s secret dealings.

“Anybody who comes out against this bill, follow the connections,” LaBruzzo said.

While the bill is headed for committee, LaBruzzo said it is still not clear if the State Police can handle the additional 50-plus miles of highway.

He said the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is currently performing a study per his request to see if the added mileage would overwhelm the fleet.

“If they come back and say they can’t, then the bill won’t pass,” he said.

The first span of the Causeway was opened in 1956 with its sister span following in 1969. The total construction cost nearly $60 million. Last year, 149 accidents were reported out of the 13,415,166 vehicles crossing the bridges.