Switching spurs

For Major Scott Fontenot, law enforcement has been a part of his life ever since he was in the military. Since then, he has worn the proverbial spurs of different law enforcement agencies such as the Ville Platte Police Department and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
He recently switched spurs again as he retired from being a game warden with the state and was hired as chief deputy of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Major Fontenot’s time in law enforcement began while he spent four years in active duty military police. After his time was over in the military, he said, “I just wanted to stay in law enforcement, and it was my dream job to become a wildlife agent.”
He considered it his dream job because, as he said, “I just enjoyed the outdoors so much as a kid growing up with my father showing me how to hunt and fish. I think just continuing on with my job and having a lot of knowledge just helped me to be able to enjoy the job.”
Major Fontenot spent two and a half years with the Ville Platte Police Department before finally getting his dream job. Once he did, there was a short period to get adjusted to the enforcement side of the job.
As he explained, game wardens enforced all local, state, and federal laws. “A lot of times,” Major Fontenot said, “it’s mainly wildlife violations, but I’ve issued citations and arrested people for theft, DWI, drugs, and traffic violations.
“A lot of other law enforcement comes into play because, while you are doing your job, you are going to come across other violations,” he continued. “You have to be able to enforce all laws.”
Besides law enforcement, another big part of the job of a wildlife and fisheries agent is search and rescue. “That was one of our biggest duties we had because we were the primary for waterways and boating accidents.”
Now that he is retired after 28 years with the wildlife department, Major Fontenot looks back on it as being an enjoyable experience. “I think age caught up with me a little bit because I couldn’t quite get around as easily as I wanted to,” he said.
“Everybody asks me if I miss it,” he continued, “and I say I do miss the wildlife side. Everybody asks if I get tired of law enforcement. I think it became a part of me after so many years. I think I will miss it once I actually retire completely.”
Major Fontenot went on to say he did not get the chance to miss working after his retirement because he was hired right away at the sheriff’s office.”
Nowadays, the job atmosphere is different. “There is no wildlife,” said Major Fontenot. “It’s all strictly other law enforcement which I enjoy because I enjoyed that part of the job as a game warden.”
As chief deputy, Major Fontenot is responsible for the overall operations of the sheriff’s office under Sheriff Charles Guillory.
“My duties here now are to keep track of all the divisions including investigations, patrol, and civil,” he said. “I’m just trying to make sure everybody is doing their job, making sure everything is flowing, and making sure we get the job done.”
Even though he is chief deputy, Major Fontenot still finds time to be in the outdoors for a hunt. Hunting has always been a big part of his life since he was at a young age.
Major Fontenot said he harvested his first squirrel at the age of seven in Easton. “My first squirrel was exciting because I finally got to actually shoot instead of taking target practice,” he said.
A year later, he got his first deer near Corney Lake in north Louisiana. “My first deer was even more exciting,” said Major Fontenot. “My dad told me not to stop shooting until it stopped moving. I think I shot three rounds after it fell. I was just very excited as a young kid.”
Hunting is so enjoyable because it creates an opportunity to be outdoors. As Major Fontenot said, “It’s relaxing because I go sit in a box stand, and I can just relax and put my phone on silent.”
He continued, “Now, it’s more enjoyable as I get older. I’m not quite as serious about it. I’m not always having to harvest something. I just want to go out and enjoy the outdoors.”