EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUR YEAR (2020-2024) REPORT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE

SHERIFF CHARLES R. GUILLORY

FOUR YEAR (2020-2024) REPORT

When taking office on July 01, 2020, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office budget was at an all-time low.  Many of the problems any Government agency has are linked to revenue.  Without money, many services cannot be performed adequately to serve the public.  Some statistics are as follows when taking office:   Patrol Officers were approx.. 1/2 per shift and with no narcotics/criminal or traffic division.  Investigators were also at approx. 2 and these duties were shared.  The Corrections staff were limited; at times only one working the shift.  The total of full-time employees was 20-25 and there was virtually no training. 

Upon starting our tenue, Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office immediately began searching for additional revenue.  We applied for the Cares Act Grant better known as Stimulus Check through the federal government which yielded approx.. $700,000.  These monies were used to create an aggressive narcotics/criminal patrol division and a full-time traffic division without taking away from patrol or investigations. Within no time, the narcotics division began making illegal drug arrests yielding illegal drugs, weapons, and money.  All these items seized were keeping illegal drugs and weapons off the streets and keeping our communities safe.  Many crimes committed are linked to illegal drug trafficking. At present, EPSO has two drug dogs K-9s.  Seized approx.. $200,000, approx.900-1000 weapons, 100's of pounds of illegal drugs counting pills, meth, cocaine, marijuana, and more importantly, one of the most deathly drugs such as fentanyl off the streets.  The largest drug bust seizure was 44 lbs of crystal meth. on I-49.

In 2021, a one-cent perpetual sales tax was placed on the ballot and passed.  This one-cent sales tax yields an average of 4.5 million dollars annually of which 1.3 million dollars is from the sales within the city of Ville Platte (greatly appreciated). EPSO receives the least amount of city sales tax compared to others in our parish.  The sales tax revenue is used wisely. For example, the New Correctional Center Prison is being constructed at present( which will employ an additional 20 employees), a new Maintenance shop, an Administration Bldg. (we have outgrown ours-no additional space-hallways and closets being used as offices), a Work Release Facility Bldg, and possibly a Chapel are other items planned with the sales tax revenue. Also, plans for additional security for the parish and especially for the city of Ville Platte are being looked at but the sole burden and responsibility should be a concerted effort by all government agencies with Ville Platte having two (2)  law enforcement agencies within the city.  EPSO and the City have made efforts to provide additional security but no agreement has been reached.  These efforts are ongoing.

Other improvements:  EPSO has increased its staff to 70 full-time employees and 30 part-time.  The starting pay for a patrolman was $11.50/hr and has increased to $17/hr. As well as all employee's salaries increased considerably. 

Along with salary increases, came equipment; Body Worn Cameras, tasers, shotguns, and 24 M-16 rifles donated by the Louisiana National Guard, brand new vehicles, GPS tracking of all units, and sign-on fingerprinting for accountability.   

EPSO also acquired a New Command Post donated by Homeland Security valued approx.. $20,000.  All repairs to our command center have been donated by Rick's RV in Ville Platte and are free of charge even labor.  A new 4-wheeler was donated to us by the Farm Bureau in Ville Platte for search and rescue and overall security on details.

To increase safety in our parish, we acquired a Drone(donated by Kinder Morgan Pipeline) and two License Plate Readers (LPRs) at no charge and donated to us.  Also, two AED's donated and located in our corrections jail and dispatch.

Grants collected are approximately $250,000.  The grant donors are from various Pipeline Gas companies,  USDA, and Litter Abatement through Lt. Governor, Billy Nungesser's office. Also, bulletproof vests were donated to EPSO two times by Mr. Bob Giles from Lafayette at a cost of $30,000.

Some Programs include:

• Highway commission grant for DWI/DUI and "Click it or Ticket" campaign and NIBRS/LIBRS State Certification (State Reporting for calls).
• Creating an EPSO website and Facebook page.
• Crime Stoppers Program pending and in Progress.
• One Toy One Dream Toy Drive at Christmas; annually.
• Dog food drive annually.
• Autism Awareness Program to help identify persons via nametags, computer log-in, etc.
• Created a "no-reply drug or crime tips line" which cannot be traced. Very helpful and successful.

OTHER STATICS ARE:

• A total of 4880 ARRESTS were made on Misdemeanor and Felony crimes.
• Of the above total 1700 arrests were drug arrests.
• Several thousand citations were issued including traffic, misdemeanor offenses, DWI/DUI, etc.
• EPSO has solved 151 cases involving serious violent and sex crimes during this time period with many more non-violent cases solved.  Many convictions occur and are a direct result of the assistance we receive from the Evangeline Parish District Attorney's Office. The Sheriff's Office contributes to the success of the joint cooperation and transparency in working together with the District Attorney, Mr. Trent Brignac.  Also, Evangeline Parish 13th Judicial District Judges; Judge Chuck West, and Judge Marcus Fontenot aides in our success to curtail crime by handing down fair sentences relating to crimes committed.  It is all teamwork.

Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office's biggest accomplishments are as follows:

• Passing a perpetual one-cent sales tax in 2021 with a result of approx.. 60%-40% in favor.
• Building and constructing a new Correctional Center Prison that can house 200 inmates is a huge accomplishment.  This building is being constructed at present.

On December 16, 2016, the United States(DOJ) received findings that practices were being done by EPSO concerning constitutional violations (4th Amendment).  In June 2018, A Memorandum of Agreement that required EPSO to correct deficiencies and problems was issued.  EPSO has worked diligently;  creating policy,  transparency, training, and reforming to achieve great success towards an end.

I am proud to say: More recently, EPSO received a letter dated October 18, 2024, from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division, in reference to the Settlement Agreement between the United States and Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office by Mr. Corey Sanders, Senior Trial Attorney, Special Litigation Section stating in the report "BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENTS; WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT EPSO HAS ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH EACH SUBSTANTIVE PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT."

The DOJ team headed by Mr. Sanders will appear in person in the near future to finalize the report and terminate EPSO from any allegations that occurred in past years and that reforms have been in place to ensure no more 4th Amendment violations will occur in the future.  More to come later when DOJ arrives.

EPSO will continue making safety and protecting the citizens of Evangeline Parish a number one priority.  

Thank You

Sheriff Charles R. Guillory