Morris Rousse
March 23, 2007Harold Fuselier
March 30, 2007
A veteran Terrebonne Parish deputy has announced his candidacy for sheriff in the Oct. 20 election, following current Sheriff Jerry J. Larpenter’s decision not to seek re-election in favor of a run for the parish presidency.
Major L. Vernon Bourgeois Jr., who as Larpenter’s administrative assistant is second-in-command, said he’s running for sheriff because he “loves helping people any time I can,” and becoming sheriff would be “a great place to do it n to make the parish a better place.”
Bourgeois began his career 25 years ago as a road deputy before advancing to patrol commander. He then served two years each as a detective and crime lab technician.
His stint as Larpenter’s assistant has lasted three years.
“Time flies,” Bourgeois said. “It doesn’t feel like it.”
Bourgeois said that as administrative assistant, he “runs the office and makes day-to-day decisions.”
“If problems come up (with) a case, we can do something different,” he said. “Sometimes we can do things, sometimes we can’t.”
Bourgeois emphasizes his long years as an officer as his principal qualification for being Terrebonne Parish’s top law enforcement official.
“I bring hands-on experience at all levels to the Sheriff’s Office that I believe no other candidate possesses,” he stated in a press release. “I know how the departments work.”
Bourgeois said that one of his main accomplishments as an officer is that he’s been a key mover behind having computers installed in patrol cars.
The computers have “worked well for law enforcement,” he said. “When a dispatch is sent to a deputy, everything is ‘autofilled.’ When a deputy gets to jail, everything is ‘autofilled.’ This better serves the public.”
Bourgeois has worked closely with the Corrections Department and the Inmate Work Program.
“I know the ins and outs of corrections,” he said. “I picked the inmates we can trust to be trustees. I know what it costs to house inmates.”
He says he has expertise also in working with the Civil and Tax Departments.
“I know how and why they seize vehicles and houses,” he said. “I know the bookkeeping. I learn something new every day.”
In addition, Bourgeois has worked extensively with the D.A.R.E. program in Terrebonne Parish schools, mentoring other deputies to be D.A.R.E. officers.
Larpenter has not backed Bourgeois officially, but “he’s said he’d never endorse a candidate,” Bourgeois said. “Larpenter told me he’s voting for (me). He wants me to be the next sheriff. I know that I can carry his legacy on.”
