The Estherwood Police Department, its chief, two former officers and the officers' insurance provider are being sued by the family of a girl they say was groomed and repeatedly raped by the officers starting at the age of 12.
ESTHERWOOD, La. (KLFY) -- The Estherwood Police Department, its chief, two former officers and the officers' insurance provider are being sued by the family of a girl they say was groomed and repeatedly raped by the officers starting at the age of 12.
The officers, Gregory and Emily Mire, have since been fired from the police department. Emily Mire, formerly a captain with the department, currently serves as an alderman for the Town of Estherwood. Gregory Mire was a sergeant with the department.
The suit alleges Estherwood Police Chief Wayne Welsh knew about the situation and did nothing about it.
An unnamed insurance company, which the suit claims provided the Mires with liability insurance, is also a defendant in the suit.
According to the suit, filed June 13 in the 15th Judicial District Court of Acadia Parish, "Emily and Greg Mire used babysitting as a cover to groom minor females and to eventually engage in inappropriate relationships with several children."
The two officers allegedly took the victim of active police calls as a "ride-along" on several occasions separately and together, and introduced her as their daughter when attending various church services, festivals and other events.
The suit alleges Gregory Mire first engaged in sexual activity with the victim, then 13 years old, at the Christmas Parade in 2022 in a police cruiser while on duty. Other similar encounters are alleged involving both Gregory and Emily Mire.
According to the suit, Emily Mire became jealous of the situation between her husband and the victim, and used her police body camera to capture one of the alleged rapes. She then allegedly informed Welsh of her husband's actions with the victim, and overheard Welsh say he was not going to take any action on the matter.
Emily Mire also allegedly locked the victim in the Mires' house, took her cellphone and would not allow her to leave while she took video on Mire's phone while accusing the victim of having an affair with her husband.
Gregory Mire was arrested June 23, 2023 by the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office and charged with felony indecent behavior with a juvenile, obstruction of justice, evidence tampering and cyberstalking. Emily Mire was also arrested and charged with false improsonment, cyberstalking and obstruction of justice.
The suit alleges the victim's parents were not aware of the alleged rapes until the Mires were arrested. A personal protection order for the victim was entered against the Mires, which was repeatedly violated, sometimes with the assistance of Estherwood Police officers, the suit alleges.
Gregory Mire was arrested again in April and charged with violation of protective orders, felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and felony indecent behavior with juveniles.
The suit claims the victim is entitled to punitive and compensatory damages, as the victim has endured mental suffering, mental anguish and "has been required to seek mental health treatment as a result of Defendants' actions," and demands a trial by jury.
