Sheriff candidates field questions at forum

Candidates for St. Mary Parish sheriff answered questions during a forum Thursday at the Teche Theater in Franklin.
The forum was sponsored by the City of Franklin and St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.
Incumbent Mark Hebert, Doug Perry and Blaise Smith were allowed opening and closing statements and were asked four questions by moderator Judith Allain.
First up, Allain asked what are the issues in the Sheriff’s Office.
Hebert said the department strives to provide the best law enforcement available in Louisiana to protect citizens and property. The department earned Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Accreditation, one of only four in the state, he said. “We must continue to build a modern, professional sheriff’s department, equip and train our officers to meet the challenges of a changing world.”
The department’s regional academy trains many other agencies in and outside St. Mary Parish.
“We must make sure we spend your tax dollars efficiently and effectively,” Hebert said of the $13 million sheriff’s budget. “Our community cannot afford to have the department run by someone who does not understand sound fiscal practices.”
Hebert said he will continue to work closely with parish government on public safety and operation of the jail. He said he has acquired more than a $1 million in grants for equipment of all types.
Perry said he doesn’t believe there are enough officers on patrol and “way too many in the office.” He said patrol equipment is “not up to par.”
Juvenile crime is an issue, Perry said, and proposed a crisis line which youths could call to speak to a counselor at any time if they have been approached about potential criminal activity.
Perry alleged that patrol has become “east and west St. Mary Parish” and that equipment upgrades are necessary.
Smith said more deputies are needed, “especially in areas of high crime.” He said there should be more visibility and shorter response times. More manpower would be of aid during “major incidents.”
He said the department should “build a better relationship” with the community.
The jail is a “major concern” of the people Smith says he’s talked to, and noted that the renovated courthouse seventh floor incarceration unit is not being used and could be utilized to cut costs.
Smith cited the lack of an adequate early warning system that alerts other agencies of incidents needs to be remedied.
He said he can bring the department up to staff and control the jail “in a controlled, reasonable, justified manner” without asking for an increase in taxes.
Allain asked the candidates to describe the department’s role during an emergency situation in the parish.
Perry listed “prompt response, assess the situation, and top priority is the citizens and emergency personnel safety. Assess the situation, clear the area, call responding agencies in charge if there are chemicals involved. Safety is number one.”
Smith said the sheriff must take command in an emergency; establish a working relationship with all emergency personnel. Regular meetings with these agencies should be held, he said. Smith said resources of the department should be made available to other agencies.
The parish is no stranger to natural emergencies such as hurricanes and flooding, Hebert said, and the sheriff’s department has experience with those events.
“Our job is to work with all state and federal agencies to protect the citizens and property of those who have evacuated and those who did not leave,” he said. He said the department has a “proven record that has been tried and tested.”
Emergencies can also include hazardous spills, terrorist attacks or mass shootings, and police certification benefits deputies. He said maintaining training and equipment helps meet such threats, and the department takes the lead.
On the issue of domestic violence, Smith stressed “zero tolerance.” He said there will be a unit to address those issues, with personnel trained to “understand the dynamics of the crime but also understand the incident, the scene and identify the aggressor.”
Smith said there is a growing need for the sheriff’s department to partner with Chez Hope, and with other jurisdictions. He said he will “give it total commitment.”
Hebert said protecting “those who cannot protect themselves is the highest priority.”
He said officers are trained to deal with domestic violence calls, noting that two Louisiana officers have been killed recently after responding to domestic violence incidents.
He said since 2013 his office responded to 207 domestic complaints and made 187 arrests. Certification is again helpful, Hebert said, and that certification is ongoing.
The department is working with Chez Hope to establish a children’s center, where children and their families can “meet in a safe, supervised environment.” Deputies provide information to victims on safety.
Perry said domestic violence is “ugly, it’s dangerous, we need to keep our deputies safe and it’s zero tolerance, period.”
All candidates said they will be heavily involved with the community, events and organizations.