Governor John Bel Edwards has ordered a "full investigation" of state funded trips taken by Louisiana State Troopers dating back to the Jindal administration.
Edwards has directed the auditor for his Division of Administration to conduct the probe.
The order came in the wake of reports from FOX 8 and The Advocate newspaper that 4 state troopers made a side trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon as they traveled by vehicle to a national conference in San Diego last October. The troopers billed for overtime and submitted expenses for their stay at a Las Vegas hotel.
The investigation ordered by the Governor will be independent of the investigation of the San Diego trip which is being conducted the State Police force.
LSP Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson said he only learned of the troopers' detours last week. FOX 8 reports that Edmonson says his assistant reviewed a credit card statement and stamped his approval.