James Blair is new Morgan City police chief

After spending 30 years and his entire law enforcement career with the Morgan City Police Department, James Blair was selected the city’s new police chief Tuesday.
Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi recommended appointing Blair as police chief and received unanimous council approval for the choice during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“I think he is ready to lead our police force in a new direction,” Grizzaffi said. “And, as you can see by the people attending today, he has support of the police station itself, and that’s very important.”
Blair, 49, was born and raised in Morgan City and is a Morgan City High School graduate.
In January 1985, Blair began his career with the Morgan City Police Department when he began working in the city jail. Blair has served in every position within the department including narcotics officer, K-9 officer, detective, and most recently as the department’s public information officer.
“I always thought as a child that I wanted to do this as a career,” Blair said.
However, at the start of his career, Blair didn’t think he would ever want to serve as police chief, but over the years, decided he could help serve the citizens and department, and “provide for a future for them” as police chief, he said.
Still, Blair was surprised to be selected police chief, he said. The Morgan City Police Department has been through a lot during the past three years, Blair said. Former Police Chief Travis Crouch died in office Jan. 31, 2014. Crouch was appointed police chief Feb. 26, 2013.
Blair succeeds former Police Chief Michael Banks, who retired Dec. 31, 2014.
“It’s been a long journey for me, for my family,” Blair said.
The fact that seven of the nine original applicants, who passed the police chief’s test in order to apply for the position, were from within the Morgan City Police Department means the department has many qualified individuals, Blair said.
“I’m humbled to be chosen in that group to serve as police chief,” Blair said.
Blair has always had respect for his fellow workers, he said.
“They have great potential, and, hopefully together we can realize that potential. They’re going to be our future leaders of the department,” Blair said. “I hope to convey some of what I’ve learned in my 30 years to those (officers).”
Developing more programs for the police department, such as the community watch program, is a goal of Blair’s as chief, he said. He wants to continue to use social media and work with the news media to keep the public informed, he said.
Blair’s wife is Heather Blair, whose father, Michael Raymond, served as Morgan City fire chief.
Blair began attending Nicholls State after graduating high school, but within his first year of college, he applied for a position with the police department.
“The day before I got the call to come for an interview at the police department was my last day of registration for college,” Blair said.
“And I told my mother if I didn’t get a call before registration that I was going to give up that effort to join the police department.”
The following morning, he got the call to come interview for a job at the Morgan City Police Department.
After that, Blair made a career in law enforcement.
Prior to Blair’s appointment Tuesday, Assistant Chief Mark Griffin Jr. had been leading the department since Banks’ retirement.
Councilman Ron Bias commended Griffin for stepping up and running the department in the absence of a chief. Griffin always gave his best effort to make sure “things got done,” Bias said.
Grizzaffi said Griffin did a remarkable job leading the department as assistant chief.
Blair has three children, Lauren, 23, who attends Nicholls State; Lindsay, 19, who attends Northwestern State; and Austin, 13, who goes to Morgan City Junior High School.
Blair’s parents were Dr. B.L. Blair and Betty Blair, who are both deceased. B.L. Blair was a chiropractor in Morgan City.
Councilman Tim Hymel said a lot of viable candidates applied for the position. Blair was among six candidates who interviewed for the job. They included Griffin, Lt. Teddy Liner, Lt. Chad Adams, former Morgan City Assistant Chief Glenn Blanco and State Police Troop C Special Operations Supervisor Troy Leonard.
During the council meeting, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said he has been honored to serve with Blair during Hebert’s 32-year law enforcement career. The Morgan City Police Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office’s working relationship is excellent, Hebert said. Hebert commended the Morgan City Police Department staff for their work.
Blair thanked his family and friends for supporting him in the career he chose. He also thanked the mayor and council for the opportunity to lead the department. Finally, he thanked an “outstanding (police) department filled with outstanding people.”

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com