Terrebonne sheriff candidates tout experience

Four candidates are vying for the second highest political position in Terrebonne Parish – Democrats Vernon Bourgeois, Orville Callahan and Godfrey Buquet and Republican William “Will” Torres Jr.

All of the first-time candidates share the same common goal: servicing people, improving the use of technology and attacking the war on drugs head-on.

Bourgeois, 49, holds the rank of Major and has been next-in-command to Sheriff Jerry Larpenter for years.

“I’ve always wanted to run for Sheriff of Terrebonne Parish,” Bourgeois said. “I vowed to run for (Larpenter’s) position because I not only have the experience, I have the what it takes to be the next sheriff of Terrebonne Parish.”

In his 25 years with the sheriff’s office, Bourgeois has headed the traffic division, crime lab, detective’s bureau and the human resources department.

“I feel that experience is the key to providing good, quality policing in Terrebonne Parish,” Bourgeois said. “I truly believe my experience within the sheriff’s office and knowledge of the parish and its citizens will help to make me a successful sheriff.”

Bourgeois said, if elected, he would focus on maintaining the fiscal budget.

“The sheriff’s office is the only office in state or local government where the head of that office, the sheriff, is personally responsible for a deficit,” he said.

Unlike Bourgeois, Callahan, 56, and Buquet, 69, both retired from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office to prepare for sheriff.

Callahan wants to take on the duties as sheriff to improve safety in schools. “We need to sure that our children feel safe when they walk the halls of their schools,” he said.

He also wants promote continuing education for the deputies.

“We should support our law enforcement officials to further their criminal justice education,” he said.

Lastly, Callahan said if elected sheriff of Terrebonne Parish he would have an open-door policy.

“We need to maintain an open door policy for all our deputies as well as our citizens, allowing first-hand information to reach the proper person,” Callahan said.

Buquet said he wants to focus on centralizing the sheriff’s office making it more uniformed and coordinated.

“We need to improve the community/police relationship in the parish,” he said. “We need for the people to know who is patrolling their streets.”

If elected, Buquet would also increase coverage of daily crimes that happen within the parish.

“Crimes happen every day in Terrebonne Parish and the people have a right to know what’s going on in their neighborhoods and communities,” Buquet said. “We need to keep them inform and not just inform then when something bizarre happens.”

Torres, the only Republican candidate on the sheriff’s ballot, said his educational and work experience is evidence that he is qualified to be the next sheriff.

“Every educational course and every job that I have taken has been leading me to the point,” Torres said. “I have worked my way up through the ranks and I feel that I am ready to take the reins as Terrebonne Parish sheriff.”

Torres said he believes it’s time for a change in the Terrebonne Parish criminal justice system and the sheriff’s office. If elected, he wants to increase the number of substations in the parish.

“By having the substations, we can divide the parish into three districts and have district commanders for each just like they do in other surrounding parishes,” Torres said.