HPD’s Breaux named Cop of the Year

Weda Triche
June 17, 2011
Tessa M. Brownlee
June 21, 2011
Weda Triche
June 17, 2011
Tessa M. Brownlee
June 21, 2011

Detective Keith Breaux knows that in his profession securing the confidence of one’s peers is a fulfilling experience, second only to knowing justice has been served with the closing of a case.


The 34-year-old Houma native, who has been with the Houma Police Department since graduating from Nicholls State University in 2003, was officially named the Police Officer of the Year before the Terrebonne Parish Council.

HPD Chief Todd Duplantis explained that Breaux was originally to be presented the recognition during a May 25 council meeting, but that was postponed as the detective held a previously scheduled commitment to his 3-year-old daughter as being more important than receiving his own professional accolades from others. “[This is] a prime example of his values,” Duplantis said.


Breaux secured his job with the Houma Police prior to completing his degree in criminal justice and had his first assignment as a uniformed patrol officer waiting for him as soon as he had his diploma in hand.


In 2007, Breaux was offered an opportunity to fully exercise his training in investigations when he was selected to join the detective bureau. “I always had an interest in this line of work,” he said.

Every day is different. As one among 13 HPD detectives, Breaux has concentrated the bulk of his work in child abuse cases. He, like other detectives on the force, also interacts with other cases and frequently fills multiple roles. “Anything involving a juvenile, whether they are the victim of a crime or a suspect in a crime,” Breaux said. “I do a little bit of everything.”


Typical crime categories tracked by the FBI include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft and auto theft. Although the HPD has posted a 43 percent decline in total reported crimes in these categories between the years 2004 and 2010, supervisors within the detective bureau contend that unless cases such as check fraud and counterfeiting, along with a host of other issues, are included, trying to determine exact statistics comparing crimes reported to those solved would always sell persons doing the work short.


“It is something I take pride in because anytime I look at a case I try to treat it with the most dignity and respect that I possibly can,” Breaux said. “I make sure that everything I possibly can do I get done. I want to make sure the victim is comfortable with the whole thing and understands the process.”

Reports of child abuse can come from family members, hospitals, school counselors or the victims themselves. “No two cases are alike and they all come in different ways,” Breaux said.


Breaux said that when it comes to child abuse, people are coming forward more now than in years past, and as a result, have presented the image of skyrocketing numbers of cases. Some cases date back decades and are only revealed when a new victim is reported.

This detective revealed that one of his most heartbreaking cases was also one of his most rewarding.

Police had received a report that children were being neglected by their parents and left alone during the day. Upon investigation, a child in diapers was found left home in less than livable conditions in an environment that gave no hint that children lived there. The child was alone while parents were out and two other siblings were in school. Child service agencies removed the children from the home and eventually got them placed in a home where they received proper care. Both parents were arrested and faced multiple charges.

Breaux said that in this case he saw how relieved the children were when they received baths, clean clothes and warm food. “The kids hadn’t eaten in quite a while. We had a patrol officer go pick up food for the kids at a restaurant,” he said. “The oldest boy took a bite of his hamburger and wanted to save the rest for his brother because he didn’t know if his brother was going to get anything to eat. We had to make sure that he understood that his brothers were going to have food and he was going to have food and they didn’t have to live like that anymore.”

Breaux said his job often takes more of his time than an office job would and expressed gratitude that his wife understands it as part of his career.

A desire by Breaux and other detectives is that the public understand that real life police work is never solved within an hour as shown on television programs. “Sometimes they see TV and think things work like they do on TV,” he said. “We have laws and guidelines we have to follow.”

“Keith defines what our agency is about,” Detective Bureau Sgt. Dana Coleman said. “Not only does he do investigations, he also works for our Category 5 Team in our Special Operations Division [a select group of first responders for situations such as hurricanes and other disasters]. He has the kind of personality that people cling to.”

Duplantis said that Breaux was nominated by some of his peers and by total department vote received the officer of the year recognition.

“This is the type of positive influence from officers that make the Houma Police Department an outstanding department,” the police chief said.

Keeping close to files of cases and working multiple assignments has earned Houma Police Department Detective Keith Breaux officer of the year honors. MIKE NIXON