Ville Platte Chief Neal Lartigue has announced his candidacy for Evangeline Parish Sheriff in the October 12, 2019 election.
His announcement is as follows: “I am 51 years old and the son of the late John “Tie” Lartigue of the Cazan Lake area and the late Octavia “Tavia” Lartigue. I am married to the former Fonda Chapman and the father of two daughters, Le’ah (30) and Josie Blair, (18) respectively. I am a 1984 graduate of Ville Platte High School and the 66th Basic Training Academy at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly known as USL.
“I have been a member of the police department for over 28 years, starting my career as a patrolman. I was promoted to the rank of sergeant, where I served as a shift supervisor before moving to the position of narcotics officer, as well as being assigned to the criminal investigation section. Then, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, which I held until I was elected Chief of Police in 2006 which I still hold the position today. During my career in the department, I also served as K-9 handler of the department’s last narcotics detection dog. I have also had the privilege of being the department’s representative on the Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board on the local level and have served in the capacity of chairman of that board.
“I am seeking election to the office of Sheriff, because I know I can continue to lead the department to a level of higher standards and continue to gain the respect from the community that the department and its members, so greatly deserve. I want to uplift the morale, of the department. I feel if the members of the department believe in themselves and the department, they will in turn, continue to perform at a higher standard, not only for the department but for the community, something that you the tax payer deserve from your Sheriff department.
“I pledge to work closely with the Police Jury to find solutions to the high turnover rate of Deputies. It is important that we keep our trained and experienced Deputies, because the longer a Deputy stays, the better they become acquainted with our community, its people, its problems and concerns and learn ways to assist the community in its time of need.
“I intend to continue, as I have in the past, to work closely with our district attorney’s office to make sure they receive completed case files in a timely manner, in order to help speed the process of prosecution, so the victims of crimes can have closure in these matters. I expect all of the Deputies in the department involved in an investigation to do their job in a quick, yet efficient and professional manner, and work closely with the prosecutors’ office as well.
“I will continue to work closely with our surrounding law enforcement agencies as I have in the past, exchanging intelligence and assisting in investigations, when called upon. I believe this practice helps the agencies involved, as it adds to manpower during certain situations, without putting a heavy burden financially on the agencies involved. I will have Deputies designated at different times to deal with complaints of excessive noise, narcotics traffic, juvenile crime and other situations before they become a problem to our citizens. Being a father, as well as a law enforcement officer, I feel strongly about the youth in our community, and I am concerned about the increasing number of juvenile offenders we deal with and pledge to continue to make this one of my most prominent items to address as Sheriff. I will continue to work closely with the prosecutor’s office to deter juvenile crimes. I will continue to work to secure outside funding through grants and other sources to provide continuing education of Deputies and upgrading equipment needed in order to allow Deputies in the department to provide the type of law enforcement services you expect and deserve. Constant training and equipment upgrades are extremely important issues in being able to perform the duties required of an Deputy, both on the street and throughout the judicial process. I also believe in community involvement through the use of programs that allow citizens to communicate with their department so the people can feel as though they are taking part in keeping their community safe.
“It is important that as a Sheriff, one would keep in mind, that we work for the people of the community and this is your Sheriff department. The people expect a certain quality of law enforcement, and it is the Sheriff’s job to see to it that his personnel conduct their daily operations in an honest, professional and courteous manner at all times, regardless of the situation, while at the same time, he should tend to the needs of the personnel in his department so members of the department will be motivated to perform at the level required to have a quality Sheriff’s department in our community.
In my job as an officer, I have attended numerous schools and training seminars during my career. The training includes Law Enforcement Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction, Methamphetamine Investigation Management, Louisiana District Attorney Association highway Interdiction and Drug Asset Forfeiture, Death and Homicide Investigation, responding to Sexual Assault and Rape Incidents Part One, Advanced Crime Scene Evidence Techniques, Introduction to Community Oriented Policing Problem Solving, Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Violent Crimes and Narcotics Training Conference, Gulf Coast HIDTA Training Program Interview and Interrogations, and most recently, I completed the Criminal Investigative Academy at the Regional Training Center in New Iberia.
“ I am certified by the National Police Canine Association, National Criminal Justice for Handling Informants and National Criminal Justice for Undercover Drug Investigation.“
“I am also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, and Louisiana Narcotics Officers Association. Louisiana Sheriff’s Association Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, The National Police Canine Association and the St. Landry-Evangeline Sexual Assault Task Force and a former member of the Evangeline Parish Drug Task Force. Since being elected Chief of Police I have continued my educational path to keep up with changing times in our world. I have completed the New Chief Management Course through the Louisiana Law enforcement Executive Management Institute, Chief of Police Mayor Relations, Qualified Immunity, and Municipal Liability, Ethics and Financial Disclosure Training Requirements Past and Present, Best Practices, Best Ideas and Governor’s Statewide Interoperable Executive Committee.
“It is with this in mind that I ask for your support in the upcoming October 2nd Election. If you choose to elect me as your Sheriff of Evangeline Parish, I pledge to continue to work with you, the citizens of Evangeline Parish, to give you the quality of law enforcement you want and deserve from your Sheriff’s Department and its personnel, to make our community a better and safer place for all who live here. Please take the time to let your voice be heard on Election Day, and again, I ask for your vote and support.”
“If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time, thank you and may God bless you all.”
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