Sheriff-elect Gibson discusses goals with Rayne Rotary Club

Referring to campaign promises he made to Acadia Parish voters, Sheriff-elect K.P. Gibson told members of the Rayne Rotary Club recently of his goal of increasing the number of deputies on patrol and a more aggressive stance on illegal drugs.
Gibson will become the first sheriff elected from outside the sheriff’s department in 85 years when he takes the oath of office on July 1.
Noting that crime has changed drastically from 20 to 30 years ago, Gibson said there is a need to be more proactive in order to stop crime before it occurs.
One step toward that goal, according to Gibson, is his desire to develop a “partnership” with other law enforcement agencies in the parish. He spoke of efforts to meet at least on a monthly basis to share information and “have an “open conversation.”
Gibson also described his goal of having more training with other law offices. The goal, he explained, is to become more familiar with the same tactics to respond to emergencies. He said he would like to see more inhouse training opportunities.
He said Sheriff Wayne Melancon has been “very gracious” during the transition which started in November.
He indicated there might be “a lot of changes,” particularly citing the need to run the sheriff’s department more as a business and not a government agency. “We will try to modernize some areas,” he remarked.
Regarding his goal of putting more deputies on the road, Gibson said it wasn’t his intention to “gut” the parish’s police departments. He added, however, if police officers in the parish seek jobs as deputies, they will be considered.
Gibson told the Rotary of his hope of developing a parish-wide arrest warrant system to share information among the sheriff’s office and police departments.
Asked about the D.A.R.E program, Gibson noted funding has declined over the years, requiring adjustment, but that he would not abandon the anti-drug educational program. While noting the program focuses on fifth graders, Gibson said he was concerned about bringing the anti-drug message to young people in junior high and high school.
Gibson also said he was committed to continuing the CHOICES Program sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department.
However, Gibson expressed concern about the growing cost of staging mock accidents and their aftermath in an effort to warn teenagers of the dangers of driving drunk or distracted.
Gibson also indicated he was investigating the impact of a fleet management lease option for the department’s patrol vehicles.