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Patrick Yoes
About the St. Charles
Parish Sheriff’s Office According to the St.
Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, “In 1807, when St. Charles Parish officially took shape, Governor O'Reilly outlined
the officers of the community. Among the lead roles was that of parish judge. The judge held all the powers granted to the
clerk, sheriff, coroner and treasurer. The judge, parish justices of the peace and jury - 12 property owners from the community
- formed the governing body of the parish. Together, they were the policy-makers and administrative body of the parish in
matters of police, taxation and internal improvements.
The Louisiana Legislature added the
office of sheriff in 1810. Appointed to serve a three-year term, the sheriff was also to serve as ex-officio tax collector
for the parish. A constitutional provision approved by the Legislature in 1845 changed the sheriff's job to an elected post.
Unlike sheriffs in other states, Louisiana sheriffs are responsible for enforcing all laws, providing patrol and investigations,
operating the parish's correctional center and collecting all taxes - property and inheritance.”
Today, the St. Charles Parish
Sheriff’s Office is a full service law enforcement agency that employs 358 full-time employees and is led by the Sheriff,
one deputy chief, four majors and seven captains. The Patrol Department consists of 68 deputies that are
deployed in patrol shifts, K9 units, marine patrols and traffic patrol.
According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, “the Patrol
Division is the first to arrive at the scene of the crime. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division then take
over the case, gathering evidence and investigating the source of the crime in preparation for prosecution. In the event of
a homicide, a specially trained detective is assigned to the case. Because of the uniqueness, complications and ongoing changes
in homicides, specialized detectives are needed.
In addition, of the specially trained
homicide detectives, two are further trained to investigate child fatalities. In homicide cases involving children, the CID
detectives work with JID investigators -- also specially trained in investigating the intricacies of such cases. The Bureau,
and more specifically, the CID works closely with a regionally based task force. Led by State Police investigators, information-sharing
meetings are held monthly.”
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