Louisiana Sheriffs Partner with State Leaders During Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HURRICANES GUSTAV AND IKE Partnerships Through the Storms THE ISIA OU NA L EMBERSH M IP Y P R R A O R G O R N A M O H E ST 94 AB 19 S LISHED ’ HERIFFS The Official Publication of Louisiana's Chief Law Enforcement Officers MARCH 2009 20 th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE SPECIAL EDITION Louisiana Sheriffs Partner with state leaders during Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike Members of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) Unified Command Group performing statewide recovery efforts after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Pictured from left to right are Superintendent of Louisiana State Police, Colo- nel Mike Edmonson; Chief of Staff Timmy Teepell; State Commander Sergeant Major Tommy Caillier; Adjutant General, MG Bennett C. Landreneau; Governor Bobby Jindal; Major Ken Bailie; LSA Executive Director, Hal Turner; Director of GOHSEP, Mark Cooper. Photograph by Danny Jackson, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association by Lauren Labbé Meher, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association n August 29, 2008, exactly three years after Hurricane and the length of time it took to travel across the state. Every Katrina, Louisiana residents were facing an all-too-famil- parish in the state was impacted by either tidal surges, flooding, iar situation. Hurricane Gustav was nearing Cuba and, wind damage or power outages. With 74 mph hurricane strength Oaccording to most predictions, heading on a path that led straight wind gusts lingering over the capital city for at least two hours, into the Gulf of Mexico, putting Louisiana in eminent danger. meteorologists claim it was the worst storm to hit the area. The But that’s where the similarities end. Hurricane Gustav, storm finally dissipated to a tropical depression threatening a strong Category 2 storm, made landfall on the morning of eastern Texas during the early morning hours of September 2. September 1 along the Louisiana coast near Cocodrie. What was President Bush declared 34 parishes disaster areas, and approxi- unique about this storm was its widespread path of destruction continued on page 10 State Sheriffs Elect 2009 Board at Annual Meeting by Angela Inzerella, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association adison Parish Sheriff Larry Cox has been elected 2008- LSA’s Executive Committee and Board was recently held during the 2009 president of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association LSA’s Annual Sheriffs’ and Wardens’ Training Conference during (LSA) by acclamation at its annual conference, accord- which installation ceremonies for the newly elected president and Ming to Hal Turner, Executive Director board were conducted of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association. by Attorney General Turner added that Sheriff Cox will lead the Buddy Caldwell. The Association’s sixty-five chief law enforce- keynote speaker was ment officers and 14,000 deputies till Luke Letlow, Special September 2009. Assistant to Governor Induction of Sheriff Cox and the Bobby Jindal on Intergovernmental LOUISIANA Affairs. The four-day conference consisted SHERIFF of business meetings, The Publication of Louisiana’s Chief Law Enforcement Officers legislative updates and MARCH 2009 SPECIAL ISSUE training sessions. Publisher Sheriff Cox and the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Educational Foundation Louisiana’s Attorney General Buddy Caldwell faces Plaquemines Par- Association’s newly Executive Advisors ish Sheriff I.F. “Jiff” Hingle; West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike elected officers and Executive Director Cazes; and Union Parish Sheriff Bob Buckly during part of the Execu- board members will Hal Turner Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association tive Committee Installation Ceremony. serve until September Photograph by Danny Jackson, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Assistant Executive Director 2009 and they include: Michael A. Ranatza Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association President Sheriff Larry Cox Madison Parish Editor First Vice President Sheriff Victor Jones Natchitoches Parish Director, Communications and Public Affairs Second Vice President Sheriff I. F. Hingle Plaquemines Parish Lauren Labbé Meher Secretary-Treasurer Sheriff Mike Cazes West Baton Rouge Parish Executive Board of Directors Sergeant at Arms Sheriff Bob Buckley Union Parish Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program Louisiana Sheriffs’ Educational Foundation 1st District Sheriff Newell Normand Jefferson Parish Chairman Alternate Sheriff Jack Strain St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, St. Charles Parish Secretary-Treasurer 2nd District Sheriff Marlin Gusman Orleans (Criminal) Parish Sheriff Bob Buckley, Union Parish Alternate Sheriff Paul Valteau Orleans (Civil) Parish Sheriff Brent Allain, Iberville Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch, East Feliciana Parish 3rd District Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois Terrebonne Parish Alternate Sheriff Mike Waguespack Assumption Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley, Ascension Parish 4th District Sheriff Larry Deen Bossier Parish Sheriff Beauregard "Bud" Torres, Pointe Coupee Parish Alternate Sheriff Gary Sexton Webster Parish LOUISIANA SHERIFF is the official publication of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program and Louisiana Sheriffs’ 5th District Sheriff Mark Shumate East Carroll Parish Educational Foundation and is made possible by contributing Alternate Sheriff Royce Toney Ouachita Parish members. It is distributed to members, statewide sheriffs, crimi- nal justice professionals and policy makers. 6th District Sheriff Charles Wagner Rapides Parish POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Alternate Sheriff A. D. Little Winn Parish LOUISIANA SHERIFF 1213 Nicholson Drive, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 7th District Sheriff Sid Gautreaux East Baton Rouge Parish Cover: Alternate Sheriff Daniel Edwards Tangipahoa Parish Photograph by Danny Jackson, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association 8th District Sheriff Tony Mancuso Calcasieu Parish Photography Credits: Alternate Sheriff Ricky Moses Beauregard Parish Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office 9th District Sheriff Bobby Guidroz St. Landry Parish Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Alternate Sheriff Beauregard Torres Pointe Coupee Parish St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Terrebone Parish Sheriff’s Office Ex-Officio Member Sheriff Greg Champagne St. Charles Parish 2 LOUISIANA SHERIFF Civil Service and Tax Seminar by Lauren Labbé Meher, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association he Civil and Tax Seminar was held on October 20 and 21, 2008. The two-day workshop was sponsored by the LSA as a service to meet the changing needs of our parishes, as well as the newly elected Sheriffs. Attendance Sheriff Greg Champagne T St. Charles Parish was at a record high with approximately 115 attendees from Chair LSHMP 47 parishes. Guest speakers included: Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff, Paul Valteau, Civil Process; Regional Manager for Milliman, Kyle Hughes, Federal Law Changes; and Livingston Parish Chief Honorary Deputy Tax Collector, Ronald Morse, Tax Process. Facilitator, Sheriff Gary Bennett (Ret.) said, “With nineteen Membership newly elected sheriffs, the timing was right to provide educa- tion on the most recent laws and procedures for the civil and tax collection processes.” Program marks During the civil process portion of the seminar, Orleans Par- ish Civil Sheriff Paul Valteau explained the latest pronounce- 20th Anniversary ments from both the courts in our state as well as the legis- lature, and how they help each office to better perform their required functions. Sheriff Valteau said, “It is most important Milestone that everyone understands that we are all connected as a result of the actions we perform. Our functions are all similar so by Lauren Labbé Meher, Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association there is a great need to continually communicate.” In 2004, a new federal law called GASB 45 was instigated 008 was a milestone year for the Louisiana Sheriffs’ requiring employers to measure and report liabilities associ- Honorary Membership Program (LSHMP), cel- ated with post employment benefits. Kyle Hughes, Regional ebrating 20 years of service and more than 39,000 Manager of Milliman Inc., presented a step by step process for citizen members. These program members made it pos- 2 this reporting, while also clarifying some common misconcep- sible to fund a myriad of training and public service proj- tions about GASB 45. ects designed to assist, encourage and promote local law Since the tax collection process is one of the major respon- enforcement initiatives during the 2008 campaign accord- sibilities for all sheriffs, and the laws are ever changing, Chief ing to Sheriff Greg Champagne, LSHMP Chair. Deputy Tax Collector for Livingston Parish Ronald Morse spoke “The LSHMP is a strong arm of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ As- to attendees about the tax collection cycle and any new laws sociation and the reason we are able to bring the many good pertaining to it. One Constitutional Amendment of notable in- works that we do to the public,” Sheriff Champagne said. terest is Act 506, which went into effect January 1, 2009. Morse Louisiana Sheriffs with the support of their honorary described this Act saying, “Act 506 allows for someone whose members, are building better communities through many property is destroyed by a governmentally declared disaster to important law enforcement initiatives ranging from schol- defer payment on his/her taxes over a ten year period.” arships for college-bound teens, statewide distribution of Attendees appreciated being informed of legislative updates monthly public service news columns and special season- and the discussions of changes