We cannot be complacent when it comes to the future of our parish. The
protection of our children, families, our neighborhoods, schools and
communities must be addressed. Illegal drugs are an issue all over this
nation, as well as this state. If we don't address it today in our
community, it will be a major issue for our parish as well. Illegal drugs
was the major problem 10 years ago, they will likely be the major problem 10
years from now.
I am committed to continuing the Drug Task Force; it is a partnership with
the DeRidder Police Department. They do a tremendous job investigating drug
complaints. I am also committed to continuing the DARE Program.
My administration will be proactive, addressing specific issues
that will face our community if we don't take them on ahead of time. In
addressing the future, I have an ambitious plan with goals that addresses
our future. I will not stand still, and regardless how ambitious my plan, I
will see it through for the safety and protection of everyone in our parish,
from our youth to the elderly, everyone...
Create and implement a School Resource Officer Program
Our children have a right to a free public education and they
deserve to receive that education in a safe secure drug free environment.
Placing deputies in schools will enhance the safety and security of our
students and school staff. It will deter students from bringing drugs to
school. It will offer deputies' opportunities to gain the trust and
confidence of the students, and with this trust and confidence students may
feel more comfortable coming forward with problems or potential problems.
Another added benefit to this program is that it will give us
additional patrols during the summer months, which is often some of the peak
months for the number of complaints received.
The Resource Officer Program will deter students from bringing drugs to
school. It will offer deputies the opportunity to gain the trust and
confidence of the students, making students more comfortable about coming
forward with problems or potential problems.
Establishing staffed satellite offices
I would like to open a staffed satellite office in the Ragley
area. There has been tremendous growth in the area south of Hwy 190 along
the 171 corridor. With the near completion of the four laning of Hwy 171
and the economic growth in the Lake area the southern end of the Parish will
continue to see this rapid growth. Ideally, I would like to place satellite
offices throughout the Parish, but the greatest need is in the south end of
the Parish and would receive top priority.
Build community wide partnerships
We need to rejuvenate our Neighborhood Watch Programs. It is
critical that we get the public more involved, we rely heavily on
information we receive from you to solve crime. This is a very important
program in the fight against crime, especially property and drug related
crime. It allows neighbors opportunities to get to know each other and look
out for each other. It allows us opportunities to share our concerns and
problems we are experiencing in different areas and listen to your concerns.
It would be a great opportunity to build a data base of contact people where
we can get information out to the public that may assist us in solving those
problems.
The reserve deputy program has played a critical role within the
Sheriff's Department and I am going to actively seek new volunteers for this
program. There have been times that it would have been difficult to operate
at full capacity without their dedication and devotion.
If there is enough interest I would eventually like to begin a
senior volunteer program (Senior Citizen Corp) similar to the hospital's
pink ladies program. Their role would be to aid in the clerical areas of
the department, freeing resources for more crime prevention activities.
Intense monitoring and tracking program for sexual offenders
There are over 50 registered sex offenders in Beauregard Parish.
I would like to see the Sheriff's department attempt daily phone contact and
weekly personal contact with these offenders. I want all the patrol
deputies to learn where these offenders live in their assigned areas, to
stop by and check in with them when possible. We can use one of the
volunteer programs to make the daily phone calls, we need to do whatever
possible to monitor these people because studies have shown that they have a
high probability to re-offend.
The department has a binder with every registered sex offender in
the Parish that includes their photo, I want to make additional copies and
place them in every school and library in the Parish. It will give school
personnel and librarians a quick reference, becoming familiar with everyone.
These are just some of the ideas that I would like to implement.
While some of these are ambitious and will take some time to implement, as I
stated earlier, I am committed to seeing them through for the safety and
security of our community. Some will require a lot of community
participation and support, but I have faith that the community will respond
positively to these programs and will be eager to help make this a better
place to live.
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