The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office operates nine divisions: Administration, Special Services, Enforcement, Civil, Programs, Corrections, Law Enforcement Centers, Investigations, and Security Enforcement.
Internal Affairs – charged with preserving integrity, honesty, and professionalism in the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is the central depository for all complaints filed or referred for investigation and responsible for the quality of timely responses and positive remedial action to allegations of misconduct by the office or its employees
Community & Media Relations – responsible of ensuring that public information is distributed effectively, efficiently, and positively to the community, states, national, and international media.
Legal – manages all pending civil litigation where the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has either an interest or exposure to civil action and actually represents the CPSO on legal matters.
Professional Standards – responsible for the policy development, maintenance and accuracy of the Sheriff's Office Policy and Procedures Manual and the development and maintenance of the Sheriff's Office S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) Manual. Ensures policy revision and updating for consistency and accuracy of agency forms control and the development and maintenance of the agency's Crisis Management and Response Manual, and maintains all accreditation compliance files.
Crime Lab – The Southwest Louisiana Criminalists Laboratory is a regional crime lab that serves a five parish area (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis). The crime laboratory employs eight full-time analysts, an evidence custodian, and a director and provides services such as chemistry, DNA, Blood Alcohol/Toxicology, Latent Prints, Firearms, Questioned Documents, and Physical Evidence.
Aviation Unit – The mission of the CPSO Aviation Unit is to provide aerial support for the organization’s patrol, investigative and administrative needs and to support other public agencies in Southwest Louisiana to secure a safer environment for the commerce and well-being of the citizens. All of the CPSO pilots are volunteers, highly qualified, and all live in Calcasieu Parish. Most all of them have military, law enforcement or search and rescue flight experience. They all hold either a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate.
Forensic Investigations (FIU) – the careful and scientific examination of physical evidence is well recognized as a critical element in law enforcement efforts to conduct successful criminal investigations and prosecutions. The FIU was formed to bring a high level of expertise to the investigations conducted by the Sheriff's Office and all other agencies in need of assistance and all members are required to attend hundreds of hours of training in every aspect the field.
Evidence – responsible for the intake and custody of all evidence and property and is an integral part of the daily functions of the entire Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. The Evidence Department maintains the physical chain of custody for criminal investigations. The Evidence custodians work daily with investigators, lab analyst and the District Attorney's office concerning evidence issues and also maintain a constant inventory on all of the approx. 50 thousand items that are currently being stored.
Farm – the CPSO farm comprises more than 80 acres and plays an important role in the function of the entire office by providing a place for inmates to work in a structured environment. The farm grows a multitude of vegetables of which some are utilized in the correctional centers and also sold to the public and they also sell firewood and hay to the public.
Photographic Services – this department serves more than 25 different agencies and serves as the hub for multimedia services for the entire southwest Louisiana area. Personnel have specialized training in photography, video, and audio equipment and continuously research technology in order to stay up to date. Some of the services performed are digital and 35mm film processing, video enhancement, video and audio duplication, etc.
Vice Division – the CPSO Vice Division consists of a group of specialized Detectives that handle cases involving organized crime, prostitution, gambling, child pornography, internet pornography, prescription fraud, unlawful sales of tobacco and alcohol, and misrepresentation of age. They also work daily with the Louisiana State Police and I.C.E. (Immigrations & Custom Enforcement) regarding investigations involving internet child pornography and also work very closely with local pharmacies and physicians to combat the ongoing problem with narcotic prescriptions.
Reserves – consisting of over 70 deputies, CPSO Reserve deputies work side by side with other divisions of the CPSO by working patrol, stakeouts, and also on the waterways. The CPSO Reserve program is based on some very simple concepts. “Promote citizen involvement in law enforcement. Project and protect the integrity and professionalism of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office while assisting the fellow members of our parish along with the visitors from other areas.”
Narcotics – Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement / Combined Anti-Drug Task Force (C.A.T.) The Drug Enforcement Department of the Sheriff’s Office is the largest member agency in the C.A.T. Task Force. All of the local law enforcement agencies within Calcasieu Parish have combined resources and work together to fight the war on drugs. The task force is divided up into three teams, Undercover Operations, Knock and talk Investigations, and the third team targets those individuals and organizations moving quantities of narcotics and currency through Calcasieu Parish, via interstate, airport, bus terminal, etc. Narcotic sniffing dogs are a great tool which is used in detecting the presence of illegal narcotics as well as currency used in the illicit drug trade.
Patrol – consisting of over 180 deputies and divided into four shifts, the patrol division is responsible for basic law enforcement operations and enforces the law, protect property and life, and keep peace within Calcasieu Parish. Patrol deputies are responsible for enforcing the traffic laws on parish roads, state highways, and city streets.
Each patrol shift has trained traffic investigators to investigate all traffic accidents on parish roads (including fatal accidents) one hit and run investigator, five accident reconstruction investigators, and three motorcycles that are used for traffic enforcement and escorts. Each patrol shift also has one K-9 unit that is trained in narcotics detection and tracking.
ACT Team – the Anti- Crime, Tactical & Training Unit or ACT-T, is a diverse group of Sheriff's office employees who "fill in the void" when it comes to numerous tasks that the Sheriff's Office is faced with. Made up of several dedicated "full time" employees and augmented by other departmental employees who have other full-time responsibilities, the ACT-T unit is composed of officers who have extensive training and experience in handling some of the most difficult, complex, and routinely dangerous situations. Often, the unit simply handles task that simply don't fit the job descriptions of other divisions.
Above all, the unit is here for any division that needs additional manpower, equipment, or just some simple advice. By maintaining a network of contacts within the law enforcement and criminal justice community, the ACT-T unit will find a solution to every problem no matter what the situation.
K-9 Division – the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office has long since relied on the use of canines for many different functions. The K-9 Division is utilized in several different areas such as, building searches, bomb threats, drug detection, and the ever-popular school demonstrations.
One of the most enjoyable tasks of K-9 teams is the local demonstrations. Kids and adults of all ages enjoy learning how useful and important the dogs are to law enforcement across the country and around the world.
Honor Guard - The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Honor Guard, a part-time unit with eighteen members, is under the direction of the enforcement commander and has a team leader, Sgt. John Reddin. This Honor Guard is recognized as one the premier Honor Guard's in the state and are activated any time a current or retired deputy is deceased. The members are handpicked by the Sheriff and have to meet strict physical requirements and must be proportionate to the rest of the team.
Motorist Assistance Program (M.A.P.) - a community-oriented program to assist stranded motorists on interstate highways within Calcasieu Parish. This program, which is jointly funded by the Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD), Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, operates 365 days per year from 6:30 a.m to 6:30 p.m. and is responsible for I-10 from the 20 mile marker to the 36 mile marker and the entire I-210 corridor.
Communications – this department provides 24-hour dispatch services for the Calcasieu Parish area. The link between the public and law enforcement, Dispatchers are linked to 911 and utilize Computer Aided Dispatch.
The Civil Division, which consists of 21 post-certified, sworn deputies and 8 civil sworn deputies, serves and executes civil processes and all other orders as directed by the courts in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes as well as assisting other departments and officers within the Sheriff's Office when called upon.
The post-certified deputies execute all civil and criminal documents as ordered by the court, including, but not limited to, citations and petitions, subpoenas, criminal summons, etc. These deputies are also responsible for the seizure of property, real (ex: homes, buildings, vacant lots/real estate) and movable (ex: vehicles, boats, motors, furniture, heavy duty equipment).
The eight civil sworn deputies are clerical and their primary duties are processing all the data within the division. They execute all parish sheriff sales in accordance with Louisiana Law (to include: the processing of writs, advertising, preparation of deeds and judicial bills of sales, obtaining mortgage certificates and appraisals, collecting and disbursing funds, etc.).
Bailiffs & Courtroom Security – the purpose of CPSO Court Security deputies is to maintain the appropriate levels of security and communication necessary to protect the integrity of court procedures, sustain the rights of individuals before the court, deter those who would take violent action against the court or participants thereof, and sustain the dignity of the court.
The bailiffs attend all sessions of the court and, under the direction of the court, open and close each court session. They maintain order and decorum in the courtroom and perform other duties as assigned by law or the court.
‘’’D.A.R.E.’’’ - the D.A.R.E. program is taught to elementary (5th grade) and middle school (7th grade) students throughout Calcasieu Parish and is designed to teach young people a decision making model that will result in skills to assist them in making informed decisions when it relates to resisting drugs and violence.
Each year, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office D.A.R.E. Program reaches approximately 1,500 5th grade students and 1,000 middle school students.
‘’’Junior Deputy Program’’’ – this nine week program is for students ranging from ages 8 – 11 throughout the parish and has been developed to provide general information as it pertains to law enforcement and other local government agencies. Several field trips are provided during the program, including a tour of CPSO jail facilities which allows the students to see incarceration in an entirely different manner, and allow students the opportunity to get first-hand information.
‘’’School Crossing Guards’’’ – Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office School Crossing Guards are assigned to schools in the morning and afternoon throughout the parish to ensure our children who walk to school get to and from school safely. The crossing guard has a primary duty of safely assisting students in crossing streets by traffic direction or diversion.
’’’Elderly Services‘’’ – are involved in the daily lives and social functions of the older citizens in our community and provide preventive services to help eliminate some of the fears they experience.
Current projects include: TRIAD - Partnership between AARP, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to work together in the reduction of crime, victimization to senior citizens and to reduce the fear of crime among the elderly.
Elderly Victims of Crime - Designed to assist seniors that have been victims of crime deal with the aftermath of victimization. This assistance could be in the form of advocacy for services our community offers seniors limited monetary assistance when finances have been totally removed, due to a crime or providing a personal contact with the Sheriff's Office to assist a senior with specific needs.
Senior Fun Day - This is an annual event designed especially for our seniors to offer a day full of fun and education. Special speakers are invited to discuss issues that are of importance to our area seniors.
'’’Criminal ID/Records’’’ – responsible for submitting, reviewing, maintaining and overseeing criminal records which include rap sheets; offense/incident reports; statements; attachments; and any other documents pertaining to criminal records. Collects and submits the required monthly statistical (LIBURS/UCR) report to the State of Louisiana.
This division is responsible for obtaining fingerprints and background checks for many different purposes.
The Corrections Division of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office is composed of two facilities: The Calcasieu Correctional Center and Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison of which the Women's Correctional Services building is an annex.
These detention facilities were constructed to provide detention, operations, and related services necessary for the protection of society. They provide incarceration as an appropriate deterrent to the commission of crime, are a method of guidance and treatment for incarcerated offenders, and assist the judicial system with evaluation tools and information for use when sentencing offenders.
‘’’Health Services Unit’’’ - this office is responsible for management of offender health care delivery systems and administration, as well as, providing leadership as the department begins more intensive health care planning and cost-containment efforts. The Health Services Administrator oversees clinical supervision for medical and dental care, mental health services, and chemical dependency.
‘’’Offender Education’’’ - this department is responsible for providing quality educational services responsive to the academic, vocational, and social needs of the offender population so as to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities to function as meaningful participants in the community.
‘’’Prison Ministry‘’’ – ensures incarcerated offenders have reasonable opportunities to pursue lawful individual religious beliefs and practices of the religion or faith of their choice. Religious programming is provided consistent with security practices and principles, rehabilitative goals, health and safety, allocation of limited resources, responsibilities, and needs of the correctional facilities.
‘’’Work Release’’’ - provides a structured transition period for offenders returning to the community with the intent of better preparing them for a successful, crime-free life. Selection criteria include current and prior criminal behavior, institutional adjustment, and alcohol and chemical dependency history. Programs provide structured living and close supervision and surveillance and contract with public and private agencies for residential work release services.
‘’’Safety Department’’’ - responsible for the management, development, and consistent implementation of safety and health initiatives that improve operational effectiveness and reduce costs for the division. This department directs the safety activities of the division through education, compliance, and injury reduction programs to help ensure a safe and healthy environment for employees, offenders, and visitors.
‘’’Prison Transportation’’’ - provides the necessary level of security, supervision, and control for offenders who are escorted outside the institution and into the community. Prisoner transport includes escorts to and from hospitals, medical appointments, court appearances, forensic hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities. The transportation department is equipped to accommodate handicapped offenders and has the capability of transporting as many as 85 prisoners at any one time and are professionally marked, regularly serviced and designed for officer, public and prisoner safety.
‘’’Women's Correctional Services’’’ - Because female offenders represent a growing percentage of the correctional population, it became necessary to formulate a gender responsive program similar to that of their male counterparts.
There are ten CPSO Law Enforcement Centers (LEC's) strategically placed throughout Calcasieu Parish. These centers, located in Iowa, South Lake Charles, Central Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Sulphur, Carlyss, Vinton, Starks, Bell City, and DeQuincy are staffed with a Public Relations Officer, Community Resident Detectives and receptionist personnel.
Local residents are encouraged to contact these centers to file police reports, request information, report on suspicious activities and obtain updates on such things as crime prevention, local sex offenders addresses and how to start a Neighborhood Watch Programs in your community.
‘’’Criminal Intelligence Unit’’’ – objective to reduce crime in designated areas as predicted by crime trends or patterns established through modus operand i by coordination of intelligence information gathered by patrol, narcotics, vice, and detectives.
This unit assists analysis of crime trends through the criminal element by means of modus operandi. This will come by use of comparison with offense reports, also field intelligence reports, field intelligence cards, etc. to reduce crime within an area or apprehend perpetrators with the predicting crime tends; reduction of manpower.
‘’’Neighborhood Watch Program’’’ - enlists the active participation of residents, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce crime in their communities. The program was started in an effort to educate residents regarding their roles and responsibilities in the prevention of crime, and to encourage them to take active measures to prevent crime. It calls upon residents to step forward and assist police in organizing their community into a cohesive unit working towards the goal of building a safer, crime-free neighborhood.
Neighborhood Watch groups discuss neighborhood crime problems with the objective of developing solutions to local crime problems. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office supplies crime information to neighborhood watch organizations and instruct these groups in various crime prevention techniques.
‘’’Vehicle Crimes Investigative Unit (VCIU)’’’ - composed of detectives whose primary mission is investigating all crimes involving any type of wheeled vehicles, (ex: cars, trucks, 4-wheelers, farm/commercial vehicles and equipment, trailers, etc.) These detectives are schooled in vehicle recognition, altered VIN's, chopped or torched reconstruction and more. The VCIU also oversee the "bait" car and other covert vehicle operations. The VCIU is a proactive unit that works closely with other investigative departments within the CPSO and outside agencies investigating and deterring these types of crimes.
