A Black trooper in Louisiana who spoke out against police brutality could lose his job in 45 days

• A Louisiana State trooper could face termination for speaking publicly about a 2019 police killing.
• Carl Cavalier gave a series of critical interviews following the death of Ronald Greene.

A Black Louisiana State trooper who gave a series of critical interviews on the 2019 police killing of Ronald Greene is in danger of losing his job.

State trooper Carl Cavalier, 33, spent months searching for more information on Greene's death. Officials initially told Greene's family he died in a car accident, according to a lawsuit filed by the man's family.

But video of the incident released in May showed troopers beating Greene and leaving him unattended in handcuffs for nearly ten minutes, and Cavalier publicly claimed the initial statement was a "cover-up."

"There are killers," Cavalier told local CBS affiliate WWL this summer, "and there are people who are okay with the killers being on the job."

Earlier this week, police officials moved to fire Cavalier, who has been a state trooper for seven years, for publicly addressing the incident, The Washington Post reported.

Officials accused the trooper of conduct unbecoming of an officer in seeking publicity and violating public statement and department loyalty policies, according to an October 11 letter, which Cavalier shared with The Post. The letter said Cavalier could be out of a job within 45 days, citing the report.

Last week, Cavalier filed a lawsuit against the agency claiming he has been the subject of ongoing, targeted harassment by supervisors ever since he issued a ticket to a fellow Louisiana officer. He is currently under suspension for using a pseudonym to publish a fictional book about a Black police officer dealing with racism, The Post reported.

A Louisiana State Police spokeswoman told The Post that Cavalier's "disciplinary administrative process" is not yet finalized, and he remains employed for the time being. A spokesperson for the department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Cavalier told The Post he plans to appeal the termination threat, as well as his current suspension.

"I would love to keep my job. I'd love to continue to help people. That's what I started out to do," Cavalier said. "Law enforcement and regular everyday citizens are having problems with each other these days. I'd like to be that glimmer of hope."

Cavalier told The Post that, as a Black man, it was easy to relate to Greene and picture himself or a family member as a victim of police brutality. He told the outlet he was motivated by a sense of duty.

"It was what I was sworn to do," Cavalier said. "If I feel a crime was committed, I feel compelled to do my job."

A federal investigation into the Louisiana State Police is ongoing, following the release of the leaked footage earlier this year. The Justice Department expanded the probe to look into whether supervisors also obstructed justice.