Katrina Coverage

The post Gretna Police "trapped survivors in New Orleans" discussed the activities involving the police chief of that town, Arthur Lawson.

This probably has nothing to do with the bridge incident, but this reprinted 2000 AP article (cached here), presumably titled "Sheriff opens video casino", discusses several Louisiana sheriffs who own various ventures:

GRETNA, La. Sat May 6.- A sheriff has joined family and business partners in opening a truck stop with plans for a video poker casino.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, the managing partner in the venture, said he hopes to install up to 50 video poker machines in a new truck stop along a major thoroughfare in Avondale.

…The Legislature debated the issue in early 1992 and barred state troopers from holding video poker licenses because the State Police directly oversees the licenses. But other police are permitted to go into the video poker business.

Several other public officials own video poker businesses.

Gretna Police Chief B.H. Miller and Deputy Chief Arthur Lawson started Metro Gaming & Amusement Co. in 1992. Two years later, it had 111 machines in 49 local bars and lounges.

In another recent venture, the wife and son-in-law of state Rep. Joseph Toomy, R-Gretna, invested in the LaPlace Travel Center, where Interstates 10 and 55 meet in St. John the Baptist Parish. Toomy said they have applied for a video poker license.

"I'm not aware of any problems that that would present," Toomy said. "It's a legitimate business."

This Louisiana Department of Public Safety page identifies Arthur S. Lawson Jr. as owning 25% of "METRO GAMING AMUSEMENT CO, License Number: 2600600152". Whether that's accurate, whether the person named is indeed the police chief, and whether the company is still a going concern is unknown.

UPDATE: Gosh darn, I see that someone else has already noticed some of the video poker info.

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