La. Guard's top enlisted adviser fired

BATON ROUGE, LA. — The Louisiana National Guard’s highest officer has fired his top enlisted adviser for alleged sexual harassment.

Another guard member made a complaint against Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, 53, more than a week ago. Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, asked the National Guard Bureau in Washington to investigate, Lt. Col. Michael Kazmierzak, a guard spokesman, said Sunday.

“As of now, that investigative team’s conclusion is that sexual harassment and abuse of power has occurred,” Kazmierzak said. He said investigators are looking into an allegation of sexual assault.

No telephone listing was available for Caillier.

Kazmierzak said Caillier has asked for representation by the regional trial defense counsel, who did not immediately respond to a message left Sunday on his office answering machine.

Caillier was Curtis’s top adviser on all matters affecting enlisted soldiers and airmen in the Louisiana National Guard.

Curtis removed Caillier from active duty and named Command Sgt. Maj. James Mays to replace him, Kazmierzak said.

The allegations and dismissal were first reported by The Times-Picayune.

Kazmierzak said he did not know whether Caillier was accused of a single alleged act or multiple alleged acts, or whether his accuser is a man or a woman. Such details may be released if charges are brought, he said.

“The Louisiana National Guard understands very well that sexual assault is a crime and his been a persistent problem in the military that violates everything we stand for,” he said.