State and local dignitaries and other guests were on hand as the ribbon was cut to ceremoniously open the newly constructed Evangeline Parish Detention Center, located at the intersection of Maxie Rae Road and Patriot Road in the Industrial Park. The event, which was held Friday, April 17, began with the raising of the United States Flag, which was donated by Gunner Sergeant Arnold Jerome Bushnell, who served in the United States Marine Corps and passed away on June 19, 2025. Raising the Flag were Deputies Allen Jason and Vic Lemoine, both USMC veterans. Sheriff Charles Guillory then stated the new facility includes 200 beds and cost $22 million to complete. He also thanked the Evangeline Parish Police Jury for the 10-acre donation. “This is a special time for the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office,” expressed the sheriff. “It’s been a very long time overdue. We worked hard to accomplish this. The residents of Evangeline Parish came together as a family to get this detention center built. We did it together, and that’s the most important thing.” As the sheriff pointed out, the voters of the parish approved a perpetual one-cent sales tax to help fund the construction and maintenance of the facility. Now that the facility is complete, inmates will begin to be housed in three to four weeks, according to Sheriff Guillory. Future plans include a new sheriff’s office, a juvenile detention center, a chapel, and a work-release facility. Pictured above is Warden Lucien McKinney (left) as he cuts the ribbon. Among those also pictured, from left, are State Senator Heather Cloud, Sheriff Guillory, District Attorney Trent Brignac, Police Juror Daniel Arvie, Police Jury President Kevin Veillon, Police Juror Bryan Vidrine, City Marshal Nicole Snoddy, Fr. Casey Dugas, and Police Juror Brent Guilory. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
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