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 WINTER ISSUE JANUARY 2017 St. Charles Sheriff Greg LOUISIANA STRONG Champagne leads National by Lauren Labbé Meher, Communications Director, LSA Sheriffs’ Association t. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne was installed as the 75th President of the National SSheriffs’ Association (NSA) during its Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The NSA represents over 3,000 Sheriffs and 22,000 members nationwide. Sheriff Champagne is the seventh Louisiana Sheriff to serve as NSA president. “It is a tremendous honor and I am humbled by the confidence of my peers across the great country. I look forward to the challenge Louisiana Sheriffs host a joint meeting with Governor John Bel Edwards and ahead as we address the complex issues facing law law enforcement officials to evaluate the group’s united efforts during the recent enforcement today. Although I will lead the NSA, I will shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. From left to right: Sheriff Bud Torres III, also continue to do my very best for St Charles Parish. I Pointe Coupee Parish; Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent; Carl thank the dedicated men and women of the St. Charles Dabadie Jr., Baton Rouge Police Chief; Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for their tireless efforts in making Parish; Hillar Moore, Baton Rouge District Attorney; Governor John Bel Edwards; St. Charles Parish safe and I also thank the residents Sheriff Steve Prator, Caddo Parish; Sheriff Jason Ard, Livingston Parish; Sheriff of our parish for their continued support”, said Sheriff Brett Stassi, Iberville Parish; and Sheriff Mike Cazes, West Baton Rouge Parish. Champagne. Sheriff Champagne, who is currently serving his sixth term as St. Charles Parish Sheriff, will nprecedented. Devastating. Historic. These were the words often also head the National Sheriff’s Association for a one used to describe Louisiana’s Great Flood of 2016. Sadly, these words year term ending in June 2017. Sheriff Champagne was Ucan also be used when we look back to describe the summer of 2016 sworn in as president of the NSA by Retired Louisiana in Louisiana. It all started on July 5, 2016 with the officer involved shooting Supreme Court Justice Lemmon and US Federal Judge of Alton Sterling. The capital city was divided as protesters rallied around Mary Ann Vial Lemmon. Baton Rouge for the next several days. Then on Sunday, July 17th a lone gunman ambushed law enforcement officers killing three and wounding three more. Finally, the rains came. Just a month later Louisiana’s flood became labeled the worst national disaster since Hurricane Sandy. Looking back on the summer of 2016, one word emerges that overshadows all of the others: Strength. Louisiana’s law enforcement showed strength both in numbers and in their unified response as law enforcement officers from throughout the state joined together in solidarity to assist Baton Rouge. After Katrina, agencies around the country turned to Louisiana as a model, impressed with how our different agencies had learned to so easily work together. This unified partnership was evident again, at a time where it was most crucial. There were no “territorial/ Sheriff Greg Champagne, beside his wife Alice Champagne, parochial” issues and all entities worked together as one. At the Governor’s right, is administered the oath of office as president of the National Sheriffs’ Association during its annual conference request, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Task Force called upon deputies in Minneapolis, Minnesota by retired Justice Harry Lemmon who were trained in riot control to assist in ensuring that residents and roadways of the Louisiana Supreme Court and Mary Ann Vial Lemmon remained safe during the protests. a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Deputies from Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Iberville, Livingston, Louisiana. Photo courtesy of the National Sheriffs’ Association. Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge Parishes all responded to the call. continued on page 3 Sheriffs’ Educational Scholarship Recipients Announced by Lauren Labbé Meher, Communications Director, LSA ouisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program Honorary Membership Program. They are awarded to Chairman Greg Champagne, St. Charles Parish Sheriff, students from each parish where the sheriff is affiliated Lannounced that seventy-one graduating high school with the Program. While some sheriffs divide the $500 seniors have been awarded scholarships provided by the scholarship into two, $250 scholarships, other sheriffs Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program for the 2016-2017 academic enhance scholarship benefits to larger denominations with school year. funds they provide themselves. Sheriffs’ scholarships, worth $500 each, are made To obtain information about the Louisiana Sheriffs’ possible by the citizen members of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program, contact your local Sheriff’s Office. ACADIA PARISH CALCASIEU PARISH LAFOURCHE PARISH ST. JAMES PARISH Sheriff K.P. Gibson Sheriff Tony Mancuso Sheriff Craig Webre Sheriff Willy Martin Recipient: Abriel Stutes Recipient: Allison Blanchard Recipient: Samantha Grace Hebert Recipient: Jordan Warren ALLEN PARISH CALDWELL PARISH LASALLE PARISH ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH Sheriff Douglas L. Hebert, III Sheriff Clay Bennett Sheriff Scott Franklin Sheriff Michael Tregre Recipient:s Alanna Dane Arvie Recipient: Ethan Wayne Hudson Recipients: Devon Smith Recipient: Diandra Nelson Clyde C. Hurst Jonathan Lee CAMERON PARISH ST. LANDRY PARISH ASCENSION PARISH Sheriff Ronald Johnson LINCOLN PARISH Sheriff Bobby Guidroz Sheriff Jeff Wiley Recipient: Sarah Elizabeth Lyons Sheriff Mike Stone Recipient: Kole Gaven Guerin Recipient: April Nicole Pruitt CATAHOULA PARISH Recipients: Collin Shively ASSUMPTION PARISH Jalon Grant ST. MARTIN PARISH Sheriff Toney Edwards Sheriff Ronny Theriot Sheriff Leland Falcon Recipient: Rachel Eichmann Recipient: Alli Renne Crochet LIVINGSTON PARISH Recipient: Kaitlyn Paige Calais CLAIBORNE PARISH Sheriff Jason Ard ST. MARY PARISH AVOYELLES PARISH Sheriff Ken Bailey Recipient: Lauren Estrada Sheriff Doug Anderson Recipients: Troynescia T. Hamilton Sheriff Mark Hebert Recipient: Annie Rachal Gerrmillon MADISON PARISH Recipient: Kaeley Paige Hill Madelyn Frances Haynes Sheriff Larry Cox BEAUREGARD PARISH CONCORDIA PARISH Recipient: Asha Meilstrup ST. TAMMANY PARISH Sheriff Ricky Moses Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick Sheriff Randy Smith Recipient: Abigail Propst MOREHOUSE PARISH Recipient: Jena Boudreaux Recipient: Ajah Williams Sheriff Mike Tubbs BIENVILLE PARISH DESOTO PARISH Recipient: Bailey Ryder TANGIPAHOA PARISH Sheriff John Ballance Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle Sheriff Daniel Edwards Recipient: Azariya McClendon NATCHITOCHES PARISH Recipient: Victoria Jones Recipient: unavailable at press time. Sheriff Victor Jones BOSSIER PARISH TENSAS PARISH Sheriff Julian C. Whittington EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH Recipient: Kenikka Wafer Sheriff Rickey Jones Recipient: Benjamin Tyler Robins Sheriff Sid Gautreaux Recipient: Kenya Ridley ORLEANS PARISH Recipient: Aaron Barfield CADDO PARISH Sheriff Marlin Gusman Sheriff Steve Prator EAST CARROLL PARISH Recipient: Carissa Lynn Kimball TERREBONNE PARISH Recipient: Jonathan David Reich, Jr. Sheriff Wydette Williams Sheriff Jerry Larpenter Recipient: Addie Bell Coody OUACHITA PARISH Recipient: Miranda Himel Sheriff Jay Russell LOUISIANA EAST FELICIANA PARISH Recipient: Case Thomas Thurmon UNION PARISH Sheriff Jeff Travis Sheriff Dusty Gates PLAQUEMINES PARISH Recipient: Chelsea Shoemaker Recipient: Maggie C. Herrmann SHERIFF Sheriff Gerald Turlich The Publication of Louisiana’s EVANGELINE PARISH Recipient: Scott Blanchard VERMILION PARISH Chief Law Enforcement Officers Sheriff Eddie Soileau Sheriff Mike Couvillon Recipient: Nicole Hampshire POINTE COUPEE PARISH WINTER ISSUE JANUARY 2017 Sheriff Beauregard “Bud” Torres Recipient: John Gordy Broussard FRANKLIN PARISH Recipient: Riley Circello VERNON PARISH Publisher Sheriff Kevin Cobb Louisiana Sheriffs’ Educational Foundation Sheriff Sam Craft Recipient: Justin Robbins RAPIDES PARISH Executive Advisors Sheriff William Earl Hilton Recipient: Matthew Ward Executive Director GRANT PARISH Recipients: William Eric Fuqua Michael A. Ranatza Sheriff Steven McCain WASHINGTON PARISH Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Recipient: Karlee Teddlie Alica Carynn Brister Sheriff Randy Seal Assistant Executive Director RED RIVER PARISH Recipient: Victoria Elizabeth Sheriff Gary Bennett (Ret.) IBERIA PARISH Murphy Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Sheriff Louis Ackal Sheriff Glen Edwards Editor Recipient: Katelyn Bourque Recipients: Rebecca Prosperie WEBSTER PARISH Director, Communications and Public Affairs Keava Turner Sheriff Gary Sexton Lauren Labbé Meher IBERVILLE PARISH RICHLAND PARISH Recipient: Abigail Reynold Executive Board of Directors Sheriff Brett Stassi Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program Recipients: Michael D’Albor Sheriff Gary Gilley WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH Louisiana Sheriffs’ Educational Foundation Victoria Brigalia Recipient: Madelyn Cox Sheriff Mike Cazes Chairman SABINE PARISH Recipients: Allie Marionneaux Sheriff Greg Champagne, St. Charles Parish JACKSON PARISH Sheriff Andy Brown Sheriff Ronny Richardson Dimond B. DeCuir Secretary-Treasurer Recipient: Chelsea Paige Beasley Sheriff Bud Torres, Pointe Coupee Parish Recipient: Jhori Leonard WEST