Suspect arrested for home invasion, battery
March 27, 2019
SPORTS NUTRITION Isn’t Just For ATHLETES
March 28, 2019
A second long-time employee of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office has announced his plan to seek the agency’s top spot, bringing the number of candidates openly challenging the seat occupied by its incumbent to three.
Tim Soignet, who most recently served as the commander of uniformed patrol for Larpenter, had also served as director of Larpenter’s state-certified police academy. At the Sheriff’s Office Soignet worked as a patrol deputy, field training officer, member of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard and member of the agency’s SWAT team.
The 52-year-old candidate served for 22 years in the Marine Corps, is a Gulf War veteran and became a drill instructor. After 14 years of Marine Corps service, Soignet achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He lives in Bourg with his wife of 11 years, Melanie, a registered nurse at Terrebonne General Medical Center.
“Together we’ve been blessed with three children: Haley, Aaron, and Jessie; and two grandchildren Bryson and Marie,” Soignet’s formal campaign announcement states.
Soignet joined TPSO after retiring from the Marine Corps in 2006, a military career in which he takes great pride, noting his work leading and training Marines stateside and abroad as important accomplishments.
His academy work is something he sees along similar lines, a position that gave him an opportunity to train future police officers.
“In an effort to make our schools safer, I worked on developing and implementing critical incident training (Active Shooter) for school teachers and administrative staff throughout the parish,” Soignet’s announcement says. “I also implemented and provided critical incident training for numerous churches and workplaces throughout the area in an effort to help the parents of our children, our future leaders, have a safe environment as well. The safety of every citizen in our parish is of utmost importance to me and is something that I will continue to focus on as Sheriff of Terrebonne Parish. During my time as director of the Police Academy, I would often explain to the cadets the many dangers of police work and the difficult circumstances that go along with it. Many times, I would emphasize to them that the most important part of their day as officers is when they are able to make it home safe to their families at the end of each shift. It is a personal belief of mine that a police officer needs a purpose each day to remind them to not be complacent, and their families are that purpose. I have trained these new officers that the badge doesn’t symbolize power, but rather, it symbolizes a responsibility to the people. I promised these officers that I would continue to remind them of this. I intend on keeping that promise.”
Soignet’s most recent position, as uniform commander, began in December.
“In this capacity, I have had the privilege of overseeing many of the very same police officers that I had the responsibility to train in the Police Academy,” Soignet said. “It has been so rewarding to watch these men and women blossom into leaders and problem solvers who will become force multipliers for the security of Terrebonne Parish.”
Soignet said the Marine Corps taught him the values of honor, courage and commitment.
“I have lived by these values by giving back to my community and serving a cause much higher than myself,” said Soignet said, the Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots coordinator for Terrebonne. “I have had the opportunity to work countless hours with my mentor, who is also a retired Marine and with some of the most generous volunteers who share the same value system serving the parish. They stand beside me year after year, working tirelessly in the mission of providing toys for children in need. I am also a proud member of the Marine Corps League, American Legion, and Brothers in Blue which are all made up of many other men and women who share the same value system that I live by.”
“All great responsibilities come with sacrifice when serving a cause higher than yourself,” Soignet said. “This is a lesson I have learned all too well while serving abroad in the Marine Corps, and a lesson I have continued to learn with the Sheriff’s Office. I recently had to resign from Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office in order to run for Sheriff. This was not a decision that I take lightly, but I feel that I need to do this for a higher cause. I have had the rewarding and unique responsibility of making United States Marines and leading them for the future of our great nation, and I have had the rewarding and unique responsibility of making Police Officers. I have proudly served my country for 35 years, and I now humbly ask you for the responsibility to continue to serve and lead our Law Enforcement Officers into the future for our great Parish! I believe that if I am good enough to make them, I will be good enough to lead them.”
Election Day is Oct. 12.
