SMPSO accredited by CALEA

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office became an accredited law enforcement agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) last year.
“We accomplished this goal in the first four years of our term,” Hebert said. “Attaining accreditation in such a short time is something that very few agencies have done and is unprecedented in this state. It is a testament to the hard work of deputies who believed in our vision to improve this office.”
Accreditation has strengthened the infrastructure within sheriff’s office divisions and brings a higher standard of accountability, Hebert said. “It gives transparency and has opened new channels of communication giving you easier access to Sheriff’s Office services and information. The checks and balances now in place ensure that this office will maintain high standards of service well into the future.”
From the first call for service, deputies and detectives swiftly and aggressively pursue leads in all investigations, the sheriff said. By cultivating this determination and executing other positive patrolling practices the department saw a drop in crime in 2015.
“Decreases in tax revenue have had a profound effect on your Sheriff’s Office,” Hebert said. “In 2012, I began to look at what we could do to offset a potential economic downturn. That year, I began streamlining services and implementing cost saving measures that have made this office more efficient. At the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, I reduced the cost of inmate transports to hospitals through the introduction of telemedicine and by contracting with skilled medical professionals who work on site. A food service contract significantly reduced the cost of inmate meals. And I reduced cafeteria staff by using inmate labor to prepare and serve food.”
Hebert said that he knows that more difficult financial challenges are on the horizon. “The accreditation process has shown us that we can work in more efficient ways with fewer personnel,” he said. “We will meet with local, state, and federal agencies to seek out additional funding. We will also continue to research grant funding that has provided means to acquire equipment and other resources at a reduced cost. As the people we serve continue to feel the impact of the changing economy, I am committed to looking for new ways to streamline operations while maintaining the highest level of law enforcement services for you.”