Foster apologizes for
spouse-abuse comment

By MARSHA SHULER
Capitol news bureau
After protests from domestic violence opponents, Gov. Mike Foster apologized Friday for downplaying his Department of Natural Resources secretary's arrest for spousal battery earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, in a terse statement issued Friday, DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell and his wife, Joan, denied that it was a domestic incident at all.

"Time will make clear this was not a domestic incident," the Caldwells said.

In a four-line statement distributed by the governor's office, the Caldwells said they intend to keep their nearly 20-year marriage together and regret any "embarrassment" the incident may have caused family and friends.

Police picture of Joan Caldwell after incident

Caldwell, 71, a longtime Foster friend, was arrested by Lafayette City Police early Thursday on one count of domestic second-degree battery of his wife, Joan, 48.

Joan Caldwell was treated at University Medical Center for a cut to her forehead and an apparent broken nose, according to police.

Foster's initial reaction Thursday afternoon to the incident brought a firestorm of criticism that spilled over on the airwaves in a local radio talk show.

When asked Thursday about Caldwell's arrest, Foster said he was "distressed to see what happened as far as the publicity they (the Caldwells) have gotten."

Foster also said Thursday he had spoken to Caldwell and that the Caldwells were "getting along fine."

"I think it was a misunderstanding they had of the way things came down," Foster said Thursday afternoon. "Of course, it has nothing to do with the job (Caldwell has at DNR). They are good people. They are not angry with each other."

Foster was also asked Thursday what he told Caldwell.

"The only thing I could tell Jack, I said it comes with being a public official. What generally people blow off, the minute you are in public office and anything happens, you are exposed to this. It goes with the territory," Foster said.

DNR secretary Jack Caldwell

Supporters of battered women's programs, including Foster legislative floor leader Sen. Jay Dardenne, R-Baton Rouge, called Foster's comments unfortunate.

Foster issued a statement Friday afternoon saying some of his comments on Caldwell's arrest "may have been interpreted as insensitive to victims of domestic violence."

"I deeply regret it and apologize if anyone took my comments to be insensitive," Foster said.

Foster said domestic violence is a serious problem. Foster said he has worked throughout his career on behalf of protecting battered women, including holding fund-raisers at his home in Franklin.

On Friday, the Lafayette District Attorney's Office was considering a media request for release of a 911 tape of Joan Caldwell's call for police assistance at the Caldwells' residence at 416 Doucet Road, No. 1-C.

Jack Caldwell told officers who arrived on the scene that both he and his wife were drunk and she had slipped and fallen on a glass shelf.

Dardenne, a legislative backer of battered women's programs, said if what was reported is what happened, "I think it's a matter that needs to be addressed."

"It was unfortunate (for Foster) to say it would have been blown off if it weren't for him (Caldwell) being a public figure," Dardenne said.

Barbara Davidson, an executive of the Battered Women's Program in Baton Rouge, said she is encouraged that Foster's reaction to the Caldwell incident struck a chord with citizens.

"A lot of people recognized it as an unfortunate remark," Davidson said.

"On one hand, he implied the only reason it is important to everybody else is because this guy is a prominent guy, otherwise it would have been blown off," Davidson said. "We would like to think in 1997 that a felony-level offense that someone got arrested for would not be blown off."

Davidson said more caution is involved before charges are leveled against a prominent person to see if the allegations are legitimate.

"A prominent person has a lot of resources to bear on their side," Davidson said.

Davidson said she now understands that Joan Caldwell has recanted her story.

Davidson said national statistics show that when spouses call the police they mostly "want the current incident (of domestic violence) to stop and are not interested in anything beyond that."

Sen. Paulette Irons, D-New Orleans, said domestic violence is a serious offense.

"As public officials, we should be concerned about his (Caldwell's) behavior," Irons said. "I think both of them need some help."

Foster is standing by Caldwell as DNR chief.

Last year, Foster fired a governor's staff aide who got into a drunken incident with law enforcement personnel in the Louisiana Superdome.

Caldwell did not return a phone message left at his office. Neither of the Caldwells returned phone messages left on their answering machine.

(Story ran on July 12, 1997)

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