Sitting Down With The Sheriff

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1:39 Local leaders of the. Podcast and TODAY i am joined By Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason. Ard so before we go any, further welcome to the. Show thank, You. Jim it's always good to be. Here, Well i'm excited to have you. Here and another year has flown. By they go bye so quick they do they. Do one of your flagship per of, course is The Christmas. Crusade how many years has this? Been so we are in our thirty eighth, year thirty eighth thirty eight. Years i'm not gonna try to do the, math BUT i think it was like eighty six eighty. Seven this program was actually started Under Sheriff Odam, graves sheriff which would later Become SHERIFF Willi, graves BUT i think he was a chief deputy at the. Time they kind of came up with this idea of trying to help these underprivileged children In Livingston parish and how they could get them give them the opportunity to have a Merry.

2:36 Christmas and so that's where the program kind of was, created started up And Sheriff, graves you, know allow him to do. IT Willi graves kind of. Started his Wife, elane was very instrumental in. It and here we are today still doing it and it was it's a great. Program as, always you hate that you have to do those type, programs but unfortunately it. Happens you have people that go through tough times and we are very blessed to be in a position to be able to bless and help people that need this and look on Every christmas, morning one of the greatest things is knowing that there are other children in our area that is having a Merry christmas because of this. Program but this program is only as good as the people that get behind it make, it you, know and having these business owners and the, citizens the deputies that volunteer hours upon. Hours you, know my, Wife, erica who jumps in and she pretty much. Spirit she don't pretty. Much she spearheads the, program very. Organized she does all the shop and. Ordering it is a huge ordeal AND i don't know if you have had opportunity to see the, setup but it's like a Miniature, walmart and this is something that they've already started prepping and they do a very good job of finding, out like

4:07 what is the hot? Item you, KNOW i want this child to be playing with a wooden toy and be the only woman in the neighborhood while all the other kids in the neighborhood has the hot, item and it changes every year every. Year it's hard to keep up with. Them, well when you have four hundred deputies and they have you, know we're having new babies in the LPs of. Family it seems like once a week and so many different, ages we're able to kind of keep up with what's, hot what's not you, know what's in this, year what's what does kids really? Want what the little girls, want what's the little boys? Want like what what is what is that item that that you that they are wanting under That christmas? Tree you. Know and of course this program really focuses on zero to twelve year. Olds, uh but we do have some partnerships to help with some teenagers through the you, Know Kawanas, Club Dental springs and other organizations do reach. Out we work really close with the school system because there's a lot of teenage kids too that you, know won't get A christmas or don't get, anything so we try to help them out as well if if we're able and we're able to make the right connections to make that.

5:16 Happen, Yeah and it's WHAT i really like about the program looking in from the outside is the impact that the program makes not only from the standpoint of the child receiving the. Toy for, example the deputies makes an impact on the. Deputies it makes an impact on the business owners that get behind this. Program maybe they hold their own you, know bring your toys up here and we'll get them to The sheriff's. Department but you see your guys out there and, gals and they, are you, know dedicating their own, time their own hours as you say to. Do and it's very it's very heartwarming when these deputies they.

6:00 Us AND i know this from experience. TOO i mean we see a, lot we really. Do, Yeah and you, know sometimes you you're in a situation as a law enforcement officer and you see sometimes people out there worse and when these, deputies like we send these deputies out a lot of times to check homes and somebody come in and sign up for the. Program and we have to keep the integrity of the program, sure you. Know so we have people to make large donations and we have people to make small, donations but we're going to make sure that that integrity program is very much professional and we're spending your money. Wisely so we have to check, areas but check people's backgrounds sometimes and the deputies will go out and you, know they so many TIMES i can't keep up with just dozens and dozens of. Times, look, man these PEOPLE i just went to look they. Didn't they need more than just, Presents like they don't have no, food they get, electricities none. On so that has created over the years partnerships with other. Organizations So Mighty moms has helped us a. Lot when it comes to the, food we have a lot of churches that has helped us out with even furniture for, families getting electricity turned.

7:22 ON i, mean it's so many things that and a lot of that is because of the deputies being good at observing the things that they're, looking you, know going into these homes and looking at. Them but the coolest thing every year for, me and it happens every single, year is the deputies that come in and it's a lot of them that actually signed people. Up and these are people that they have ran, across our citizens that they've had to deal. With they had to put a mom in, JAIL i had to put a dad in, jail a guardian, jail what have. You and those deputies will sign this family, up say look there's families in. Need we checked it. Out we want to give them a Good. Christmas you, know no matter what the reason, is we were there to do our. Job we still are trying to be as you, know compassion right and and and feel a void. There, well that deputy is usually the same deputy is adamant that he gets to take those toys of those. Kids, wow and that is that's that's a big deal to be able to see that because you, know we're Not, superman, right we don't have a heart of. Steel, Uh we're going to have that that moment where we don't want people to just see us like. That we we want those kids to know, that, hey look we're good, people but we have a job to.

8:41 Do so to be able to flip that script and a child's, EYES i think it is important TO i know it's important to. Them so we see a lot of that and it just says a lot about the program and what goes on behind the, scenes a lot that a lot of people don't know. About and the deputies that you see at all three of warm locations and Bass pro they're not being paid to be. There they're volunteering their. Time they get off at four o'clock and they go to That walmart and they sit there until dark or until we. Close and so we have to have all hands on. Deck they believe in this. Program we have had deputies and divisions come together because they'll adopt the. Family we. Don't they'll just they'll just do. It, hey they came. IN i know we were taking care of, toys but we know they need closed and they need.

9:30 This we're going to do it. Ourselves and those again stories that no one hears about because they don't want you to hear about. Them they just want to make sure that they take care of that. Family and, again all this, IS i, guess is doable because of the people that's got behind this program and what we've built in thirty eight years and to be able to bless those families and, look it just makes. It it's a lot of, work but it's an exciting time to year for. Us it really look, personally my favorite program in the parish as far as you, KNOW i always say nationally my favorite, charity AND i hate to say favorite because there's so many, worthwhile but the one THAT i, really uh work hard.

10:19 To give to Is Saint. Jude and it's Because i've toured that facility And i've seen for my own eyes these, children and, UH i know where that money's. Going then you feel look and have you been To Saint jude anybody's listening has been the. Same, jude you feel that presence when you. Walk it's. UNBELIEVABLE i get chills thinking about. It and and, uh you, know your program is very. SIMILAR i see where that's. Going and that's that's WHY i love to promote it every year and look investing in, Children you'd be hard pressed to, find, uh anything more worthwhile than. That Now Livingston, Parish uh you know. This we keep growing sheriff every.

11:02 Year we are the fastest growing parish in the state Of louisiana this. Year first of, ALL i want to tell, you and this is not what you came here, for but but what an amazing job you've done Leading sheriff's department relative. To keeping us. Safe when you're the fastest growing, parish that's a hard thing to. Do it, is it, is it's it's it's it's a. Challenge it's a it's a constant challenge because you, know one of the biggest things that for me as a leader is making sure my deputies have all the tools they need to do their. Job and one of the things they ask for more than anything, else is just more. Personnel we need more. Help this help doing that and we're we're growing so fast that it's it's definitely some growing pains, there but we've we. DO i feel like we do a really good job of trying to make sure that every single division we have is, efficient going back and rechecking those divisions to see if those divisions are still doing a really just calls or do we need to do a way that open another one, up or and then you watch your crimes to where you know back IN i guess probably fifteen years. Ago i've been to sheriff for fourteen. Years so WHEN i took, over we were detectives and you had a narcoic division and that's. It so you worked from a sex, crime a child, molestation a could be a, homicide a. Robbery

12:34 you did at. All you were an, investigator no matter of what it. Was now we actually have a sex crime, division that's all they. Do THE ikac. Group we have a division that's financial crimes and that's a, big big. DEAL i have two. Guys we just added one just recently because financial crimes is just getting to be a really big ordeal because of The internet and gagnology and it's you wouldn't believe the hundreds of thousands of dollars that we have been able to recover and through a person that was just doing a transaction or wiring money and it's captured by some of these people that are scamming, people and they'll capture that money and reroute that wire to somewhere. Else and the crypto. Coins, look IF i could ever turn the crypto into, MONEY i might could absolutely not have to collect taxes one. Year but it's just crypto. Money we didn't even we didn't even. KNOW i know that taxes is the sore subject, people but we didn't even. Know, LIKE i, mean you have so much of that going on out, there like we were, like we didn't even wasn't prepared for one of The hey we need to do something with crypto money that we're.

13:56 Seizing what what are you gonna do with? That so it's so many things that are going on in. NARCOTICS i, mean y'all keep up with. Them if you, DON'T i, mean if you, don't if you don't keep up with this pair of sheriff's. Office we have a fabulous social media team and we have an, app and we DO i think a great job of trying to educate and keep you in the know of what's going on around the parish are narcotic. Guys they specialize in putting these bad guys in, jail on these drug, dealers and they do. Excellent we have made some really good cases last. Year not only did we take over one hundred and fifty individual doses of FENTANYL aufs one hundred and fifty thousand doses of fentanyl off the street individual. Doses that person's in prison for pretty much. Life him and the other guy they got ninety nine years who was one of the other big drug. Users so and whenever you talk about, that you talk about the the fact of the abuse problem we have here In Livingston, parish and we're fentanyl's killing so many. People and we go back to twenty twenty two or twenty twenty, three whenever we had one hundred and twenty something people that died from a frontannel overdose In Livingston, parish and we beef up and narcotics start doing what we, do and you see those numbers drop to where you find the two main, guys you put them behind bars for, life and then your next, thing you, know your stats for people overdose. Unbelievable it's

15:30 just we have those things that are, happening AND i say it's behind the scenes because sometimes you know about, it sometimes you. Don't but this fast growing parish has caused us to have to think out the box and try to. Specialize like domestic. Violence we have a domestic violence. Unit that's all they do is work with domestic violic. Victims and those individual investigators are very knowledgeable with that type of. Crime and so now when you have a domestic violence related, homicide that's who goes in and works that, homicide and they know and. Understand and of course when we have any type of, homicide all boots are on the ground and all these divisions work. Together but we've been able to specialize and and do those type of things to be able to give you a more professional law enforcement. Service and sometimes it's hard to do, that but we're fortunate to be able to to offer and and and give that provide that for our.

16:33 Community, yeah it's, uh you know when you mentioned, Briefly, EYEKAC i want to talk about that quickly because that's a, program uh that the sheriffs throughout the state Of luisiana participate. In your particular division has really done some amazing. THINGS i know you have some stats WARDING i cast, SPECIFICALLY i want to cover those. Quickly so, yeah in I Caac internet crimes against children and so it's a task force that from The Attorney general's. Office Liz murle actually had one of her people approach, Me Chris, masters who ACTUALLY i spoke, to wanted to kind of get us involved in HIS iicac, program and SO i didn't know a lot about. IT i am known in the law enforcement. World i'm not a big task force. GUY i just and the Reason i'm not a big task force person is BECAUSE i want to make sure that my citizens are getting the service they.

17:40 Deserve and sometimes these task force will will pull this deputy away From Livingston parish and focus on another parish or what have. You and that's just kind of my views on. It, now there are a very good task. Force we are a member and have some type of our hands or some kind of connection with, them so we work with. Them i've just never been a. Fan the Reason i'm telling you that is SO i was approached about THIS acact before in the, past AND i was, like, well you, KNOW i don't really and look and sometimes when you're in a position that Like i'm, In, uh slow down a minute and and really look and pay. Attention, well my stats wasn't showing THAT i really needed to be a part of something like. That and. Uh and one of the biggest things about having been able to have a member on a task force is having the right deputy that can do. It so WHEN i was, APPROACHED i sat Down Chris, masters he was kind of my.

18:38 Contact me and him had you, know some conversation And i'm gonna go ahead and throw him under the. Bus Kyle, hothard one of my. Deputies he approached me about THIS iqaq Task. Force he, Said, Sheriff i've, been you, know looking into. THIS i really would love to be involved in, this AND i kind of want to make this. Happen so we kind of started having the meetings AND uh kind of LIKED i. Seen one of the biggest things is there's a lot of times when you run a big agency like, this AND i really want the citizens if you tuned out to him back in BECAUSE i want you to listen to this. Part there is a there's always that time where maybe a detective doesn't give, you maybe the justice you thought that you. Deserved maybe you made a complaint and you feel like that it didn't get looked, at or it got the ball got dropped and uh and they'll call The AG's, office THE iqaq Task, force and then that I caac Task force will usually reroute that back to my I cac division and we will re look at. It. Ye, WELL i really like that because there's so many times THAT i have no clue that that did have to drop that. Ball, okay we're a big agency and sometimes if you don't make a, complaint you, know we don't know that and you have people don't call me directly and and we we look into that kind of. Stuff so that's kind of what kind of maybe got the ball rolling a little.

20:01 Bit and then BEFORE i knew, it it was just exploding because these deputies were THAT i had was. TRAINED i Had. KYLE i kind of put him on one of my, captains which Is Calvin, bowden and, said, look it's just kind of monitor. This and then we started looking at a lot of our uh sex cases that were that were had been coming. Through we had a lot of good, ones but we had a lot of. Failures and that made me revamp AND i actually did a. Strictly we now have four detectives that only do sex. Crimes they do nothing. Else we did have juveniles doing sex crimes and juvenile, stuff and that guests can get to where LIKE i said, earlier you can be more efficient by having a sex crimes, investigator and so that's what we. DID ikak was one, person which Was. Kyle will now have three people in OUR ikak. Division probably could use four or five. More and they are killing.

20:57 IT i mean they they these these, Individuals, uh they work really well. Together. Uh they a lot of investigations lead over to each other from your actually just your sex crimes. Division what you're dealing more with. Victims YOUR acac division is dealing a lot with you, know people that are on the internet seeking out these you, know these PREDATORS i, say on the, internet seeking out their. Prey and so it's more of a proactive unit trying to identify and catch these predators before they actually get a. Victim but through, that you, know we we've rested over one hundred and eighty five. People we've been in almost two, years so less than two years from START ikak almost it's right at one hundred and eighty five people that's been arrested nearly two. Hundred, yes why, Already. Kate and these are good. Cases, uh these are these are the disturbing, cases but they're they're they're good. Prosecution and What i've always And i'm going to look at these numbers because they change all the. Time and this is the thing that really gets me whenever we talk about. This so what we've been in so thirty six different states when we do these, Investigations so we've touched over thirty six different.

22:07 States our investigation has led. Us that means also we've arrested people from thirty six different, states thirteen plus. Countries, countries. Countries now you see these when you see us go out and we put this stuff out on social, media really pay attention to where these predators are. From not all of them are From Livingston parish most of the, time a small majority of them are From. Livingston they're from all over the areas around, us and we basically get them to come here and we make that. Arrest they think that they're talking to a thirteen year old child or a fourteen year old. Child in, reality they talk to uncovered deputy and we have procedures to make sure we do it the right way in making a good.

22:49 Investigation but the NUMBER i wanted to share with you that is amazing to, me that this number is what makes me keep doing, this what makes me want to do. More is that we have identified seventy eight child victims that was unknown the law enforcement are their. Parents so really think about, That. Jim, yeah seventy eight children that has been. Victimized the parents didn't know they were a, victim nor did law. Enforcement that wasn't. Reported but through these investigations with this, unit and, look we work really well With Liz murrell and her team and other. Agencies when you're able to get a perpetrator off the street and through that, investigation get him, arrested working the, case and then working these devices and, stuff and find out that he has some victims out there that we need to know about, it and now you're bringing them. Justice and they were usually quiet because they're. Scared they you, know they thought they did, wrong they did, wrong or whatever the case may. Be was you dealing with a young, mind it's very vulnerable and these sick individuals are seeking that they're trying to figure that. Out AND i think the numbers are over five hundred thousand predators online twenty four to seven at any given. Time and what they're doing is they're going after your children while they're playing on these gaming any type of social media platform that has a chat, room that's. Dangerous and go back to

24:25 the incident we had with the eighteen or nineteen year old man that we're arrested In Dental springs that was seeking out eleven year olds Through snapchat and he was able to find their location because they had their location on the. Phone they didn't really know any, better and that's how he manipulated them into giving him videos and photos and then he would threaten them and then later on rape. Them these individuals are real and they're out, there and the parents and your, guardians, grandparents if we don't educate ourselves and really pay attention to what our kids are doing any social, media with the social, media just the devices that are in their, hand that cell, phone that is just a straight line to. That and, look we're, busy we have busy. Lifestyles there's no reason for a child that's seven years old or six year old to have a. Phone. Amen it's Just i'm telling you AND i know that we're, busy and, HEY i just want them just to call. Me those kids are very.

25:31 Intelligent they're going to learn that system if they don't learn, it because they have on their. Hand the, kids says sitting next to them will teach them what they need to because look all of, Us Jim jason, here we learn from our buddies and they learn from. Us that's. Right and now you have a device that can connect to anywhere in the. World they can find out any information they. Want you can't even Tell Uncle johnny stories no, more because they can tell you it's, false that ain't. True Uncle johnny ain't the one that went to the. Moon it's this guy right here as an armstrong guy just right. HERE i looked it. Up and so you can't even really joke with your kids anymore like we. WERE i, MEAN i know about. You my uncles used to make me believe all kind of. Stuff, same, yeah but we didn't have something to go look it. Up AND i say all this because our kids are Such they're on a level of intelligence right now at a young.

26:22 Age that's. Scary BUT i don't want to take away from the fact of what they need to be focused on us as parents is what how vulnerable they are right now with those cell? Phones and this is so. Real we do these. Things everybody Knows Chris hansen has Located Livingston. Parish very good friend of. Mine the Way Chris hanson AND i met is he actually reached out to me about a case that he wanted to talk to him. ABOUT i, said no, problem and we were going to interview and through that he actually started watching my social media page and next thing you, know he calls ME a couple months. LATER i, said, hey, MAN i see y'all got up some really nice cases going, on and you, know that's kind of WHAT i, do And i'd love to work some operations you, guys would you be willing to do? That AND i was, like you, know, sure now let me think about. IT i didn't have, to, YE i mean It's chris ans and everybody would love to see, this, yeah because, Yeah so we invited him down and you, know he comes. Down we started kind of doing these operations and he's a very genuine. Guy and, man the things that we have seen And i've been in Law i'm in my thirty third year And i've seen some things in law enforcement but when we get on these, operations it's always something new and it is crazy and it is, very very. SCARY i am VERY i don't know how a parent does what they do

27:54 today that has young. CHILDREN i really. Don't it's got to be. Difficult has to. Be my, kids they were raised and the era of cell phones was kind of getting coming. Up AND i remember my, son he didn't get a cell. Phone he was twelve years, old and my daughter was right behind, him and she knew exactly how old my son was when he got, his and she expected to get her at the same time or maybe a little. Earlier BUT i just knew those cell phones were not, good but not at the educational LEVEL i have. Today and again the, gaming all these kids that are gaming and just these social media chat. Platforms, guy they are so, scary so so many ways to reach.

28:34 Them AND i do want to, say you nailed it when you said you, know these kids are a. Lot smarter than you. Think And i'll give you an. Example just this, week a case broke In louisiana where a thirteen year old male was making deep fake images of a thirteen year old. Female now that's child. Pornography there's laws against, that and this has created a firestorm in that. Area BUT i have no idea how to make. That this thirteen year old, kid it was probably no problem for him to do. That and these day deep fake images look. Real they look exactly like as if that person was taking a. Picture and so that's how smart these kids are. Today and predators is exactly the perfect name for what those people are that seek them.

29:32 Out amazing. Job and one THING i really like about what your office has done with THAT ikac program is you turned it into proactive rather than reactive. Policing you're catching these predators before anything, happens instead of someone making a report, saying you know that my child was raped by this adult and you know you're you're starting from the back, end you're catching it in the front. End, Yeah and we've had, Those we've had these incidents where these individuals have came over here with. Guns oh, wow they came over from Areas, Biloxi arkansas them and they've drove down here To, arkansas states over the. State oh, yeah state that drove down here to have intercourse in their mind with this juvenile thirteen fourteen years. OLD i, mean what are they going to do if it's actually a thirteen to fourteen year, old, yeah female and, male because it was it could be boy or, girl it.

30:41 WAS i, mean we've arrested them for both and this actually. Happens are they going to just leave knowing that this, person this this child is not ever going to say. Nothing are they going to threaten? Them are they going to become somebody that they you, know going to be haunted by the rest of their. LIFE i, mean think about. It seventy eight victims were already. Unknown it has been victims that wouldn't tell. Nobody and remember, this nobody wants to disappoint their, family, right your. Parents that's one thing you don't want to do as a child is disappoint your father or disappoint your. MOTHER i, mean we make our parents mad all the. Time that's. Different it really.

31:24 Is disappointment is a Big these, predators they pray on that and they know what they can and can't. Do and dozens and dozens and dozens of people that we've, ARRESTED i think earlier it was one hundred and eighty five that we've, arrested there was a large majority of them that would out a doubt have done this before before we call. Them this is not their first rodeo, out it probably wouldn't their second, rodeo but it was damn sure there last because they in my, prison The jason The JASON R. Hotel notech AND i can tell you that we have worked really hard With scott parallel on.

32:04 This we have stayed on top of this to make sure we get the best prosecution as. Possible and it is. Working AND i know that we're talking to THE ikat guys when they tell, you, yes as soon as they find out see dental springs or anything to do With, livis they use it ghost. Us, yeah, okay, great then what will we? Do, well that's why we have been actively Helping Liz merle get all sheriffs on, board BECAUSE i want you to go the state Of. Louisiana and we now have a great. PARTNERSHIP i don't know how many sheriffs are on BUT i think it's over fifty eight. Now if it's not fifty, eight it's going to be really. Close it's sixty four of us And liz has done a great. Job her And chris masters of going around talking to these. Sheriffs you, KNOW i do my best of trying to pick on a fellow sheriff to tell, them why a't you have a party division and you you're not good? Enough you, know just kind of having that that relationship of a little you, know being a little, competitive and and we do that because we need them to be a part of this. Team and so the last operation we did we did in The watson. AREA i think we uh it was On Fox news the other. Night, yeah the one was a. Doctor we we had some some individuals in their forties that decided to go swimming in a swimming pool and just it's just crazy. Stuff and uh AND i actually, was uh had WHEN i

33:37 walked in a. ROOM i just want people to walk in the. Room we had people there From East Battery Sheriff's, Office Ascension Sheriff's, office several P. D. SLYDALE i don't Want i'm gonna miss, somebody but it was it was several of. Them this is not Just Livingston paris. Deputies this is a task force from all over and we're. Working and we, went LIKE i, said we're making these. Cases we RESTED i think one or two individuals out of the eleven or twelve we arrested that. Night we're From livingston and you Had Baton. Rouge we've arrested before From. Biloxi, uh they've drove From. BILOXI i, mean it's crazy how far uh this has. Spread and uh AND i actually was. AFFORDED i actually afforded the opportunity To Representative Kelly hennessy to come over and actually be a part of that.

34:23 Sting and she took. That she took that. Opportunity. Uh matter of, fact SHE i think she was so interested and intrigued BY i left about several hours before she. Did then she hung around and worked with them most of the night just to learn and, educate, uh to see what we're doing with boots on the ground and these. Operations AND i wanted them to see that now this is one of our representative because, hey we might need some money over this way for. This liz may need some. Money and now they know the importance of. This these, uh these sting. Operations these are not something that we just sitting around tweet on our, thumbs you, know trying to make THIS u. Up this is. Real and everybody we put in, jail we're stopping them from victimizing someone's.

35:07 Child that's, right and and these people are legislating law and when they see that, firsthand and you, know there's it's one thing to see it on THE. Tv it's another thing to be there and witness. It. Uh i'm sure it had an impact On Representative. Hennessy oh it, did it. Did And, uh it was one of them things that you just kind of an idea came to. Me and of Course i'm sure That i'm gonna have you, Know roger And shane and all of, them can we call? Me what about? Us you, know, hey come, on need to see you need to see what we do. Here, uh when you go behind the scenes and and you're able to sit and watch these individuals. Work AND i think one thing That Kelly hall tell you is that the way these deputies were so into it like they, were and then from one moment they were sitting there kind of doing the, work explain how they're doing, it and boom jumping, up putting vest on guys on the, Way he'll be here in a, minute and went from investigative mode to tactical mode that. Quick. Wow and it's just it's a it is absolutely something that is it needed to. HAPPEN i Wish i'd have done it years.

36:18 Ago i'm not scared to say. That i'm Glad i'm doing it, now And i'm glad that we're in a position to pretty much lead the way for the state Of louisiana and work really close to An attorney GENERAL i think is doing a great. Job we have a great work, relationship and we have the right people that are sitting in the right chairs to be able to make this thing. Happen and SO i hope that we are continuing this. Fight and, again my goal is to have this predator click on any address In louisiana and, say you know, WHAT i better not even go. There that's, right and that's our, hopes AND i hope that we can eventually tackle this. Nationwide AND i know they're working on.

37:03 It it's a big thing to, say BUT i see what we're doing on a small scale and the impact that we're. Making it's out, there it's, real and we just can't stop fighting. It AND i can tell you that just reading through the chatter THAT i read through on social media Like, facebook the reputation That Livingston parish specifically is getting for don't. Go, there, Right, YES. I can't believe these people keep going back To Livingston. Parish they're not getting away with it, there and that's a reflection of your affiliation With Chris hansen and this thing going. National like you, said some of these people don't live, here but they're familiarizing themselves because of The True Blue network and The Livingston Bear sheriff's office working so closely With Chris.

37:55 Hansen's we did the second steing With Chris hansen in the same area at the same. House, yeah the same house three three months, later just as many. People, Yeah like if you watch some of the, episodes you know where we're at and you know now we're moving. Around but it's, LIKE i don't, know you, Know chris is big answering the same question is why do you do? This why do you do? It and he said he's never got an, answer you. Know SO i think that they have something wrong with, them the mental, compassity, Whatever BUT i don't care what it. Is you're not going to do it here and lives To. Parish we're going to catch you. Now we're going to make sure that you get a not only, justice but just the fullest CONVICTION i can possibly give. You and, uh And i'm glad again That Scott perel who got on board and uh has has really done a good job of helping us get these prosecutions when it comes to these type.

38:52 Cases he really. Has and, uh you, know you're protecting the, children doing a great job of. That and that leads me. Into my next, topic which is another program that you've. Started this is the school safety. Detail of, Course, uh thank, god we've never had to deal with some major school shooting like they've had H uvaldi these places that you all of us have heard of broke all of our hearts seeing just horrific tragedies like. That, uh but that doesn't stop your department Share, forard from ensuring that we're doing everything we can to protect those. Kids and school safety detail is a big. Deal tell us about.

39:39 That it. Is and and, look several years, BACK i actually tried to pass attack sales tax to try to make SURE i can put every an officer in each, school and you, know knowing WHAT i know, today and and and once we got through, that of course it, failed And i'm glad it did BECAUSE i don't, no even, today it's really tough to get that we have we have fifty two sites forty nine with. Kids, wow sod have been really challenging to try to hire that many people to do. That, Now i'm not saying THAT i wouldn't you, know if it did, PASS i would have absolutely did. It did my best to try to do.

40:19 That but at the end of the, day it's that that's almost. Impossible, yeah, Right, so But i've ALWAYS i always wanted, This and the very first THING i did in twenty twelve was put first the very first school resource officer and lives in pair of school outside Of Dammald. Springs, yeah, Okay and it Was Aaron. Bond he actually was working when He's Battery sheriff's. OFFICE i got in negotiation with him AS i was. RUNNING i, SAID i want you to come over. HERE i want to start a school resource. Officer we. Moved we put him in watching uh kind of the rule where it heavily. Populated that's where we kind of. Started AND i wanted that not only because he had a gun on his hip to protect our, kids but be. Mentors can they have a kind of a role right build trust and these and these children and to know that they can come with us they have a. Problem so there's so many objectives there to try to. Reach, well we now have close at thirteen school resource, officers and so just trying to think of how we could do a better job of securing our, kids of securing our. Schools how can we make this happen.

41:34 Now the superintendent of the time Was. Murphy he was actually who the superintendent. WAS i went to him and we had a conversation and we just basically, said, look let's do. This let's do a sixty forty. Split let's just dedicate a certain amount of money to school, safety and we'll start getting these deputies to go off duty and sit at some of these. Schools let's just see where it. Goes so we DEDICATED i think it Was i'll go ahead and SAY i think it was like close to three, million, okay because we did a, math, like we have fifty two sites forty nine with, kids we have ball games all the, time we have all this toub. Going so we did a kind of a math of what it would cost, us and the math came up to be around three. Million SO i, said, okay, Well i'll dedicate a portion of. That you dedicated a port in that's what that's used for, okay well it's almost it's still it's we have a lot of deputies on the, ground but it's sometimes hard to have forty nine, sure, right so but what that did was allow us to build that. Program AND i don't want to use numbers it's a high number of deputies that are in the schools BECAUSE i don't want people to try to figure that it's just a safety thing with. Me, sure but these deputies are at this. School we put in over thirty thousand hours boots on the ground hours at these schools started and this is the twenty four to twenty. Five

43:05 when you pass the school and you see a, unit he kind of they sitting there and they kind of watching the parking. Lot they do get out of the, unit they do walk to, schools they, do there's things that they. Do the biggest thing for me is to have somebody that's paying attention to what's going on in that. School somebody walking up on this campus looking suspicious with a hoodie. On most of them will drive. Up if you look at all the school, shootings they drive up and get out of a, car or they've come from walking down the road with AN ar fifteen in their, hands so we're looking for that person trying to get into that. School most of the, time you have a school resource officer that's inside the, school, right that's all day. Long they're all they rotating these, schools they're all you know what school they're gonna be in, there in these schools all day. Long this security guy is watching our schools.

43:55 Too he has contact with people. Inside he's just kind of. Them. Okay i've had people, say, well why don't they write, Tickets, well tickets are important and trying to keep the road, safe and that's. Important but IF i were going to take over to, school the first THING i would do is have, You, jim make that deputy pull you over and write you a ticket SO i can get in that school And i'll take care of every one of them kids while you have him down there. Distracted that's why their sole job is to watch those children and watch that school and look for any kind of suspicious. Activity and then they approach. It and we have had a lot of incidents that they have, stopped and, well a lot of times we don't appreciate the things that go.

44:42 On i'll use the word behind the scenes a lot because we have a lot that goes on behind the. Scenes one of those is is when we have a divorce court the courthouse and one of the parents don't get their, way it usually winds up at the school and sometimes before we can get somebody, there that don't happen. Anymore that's, huge that, is and that's let me tell you what you don't want to deal with as an angry father or an angry angry mother and you're in between them and their. CHILDREN i don't ever want to be in that. Position, unfortunately we get, there but it's we got to make sure that we keep everybody. Safe and those are just the unfortunate situations that we find ourselves in because that's our. Job that's just what we.

45:26 Do but that school safety has been a big thing for our. Kids. Uh it makes me feel good as a as a father to know that these that these vehicles are. THERE i didn't have that with my daughters and my son was in, school but they did have the School resource officer. Program AND i can tell you that this man right here drove by that school several times and we had a shooting. Somewheres just to put my eyes on one of my child's vehicles have see. THEM i just need to see their, vehicle seeing a deputy in a parking lot or you, know you, know mine went to, walkers so just to know the walker officer was there made me feel. Better as a, PARENT i experienced. That so this is just trying to do our.

46:12 Part we also have been able to use these security guys to move. Them sometimes we have these ball games and last year it was the year Before lass kind of had a bunch of problems at one of the schools where it was a lot of. Fights and we may have some you, know some of these football games or even basketball, games we get these rivals where they get a little bit out the, box some trats go, down and you, know do go a little bit overboard with some of their. Pranks and to be able to pull these guys in is. Big it's big to show that. Presence and, LOOK i don't want us to do anything On friday night but Enjoy friday night. Football right WHEN i go to a basketball, GAME i want to enjoy a basketball. GAME i don't want to have to deal with a bunch of kids fighting and next, thing you, know your gunshots and you, know and then that's. It it just that's not what it's. About Uh, so, again this is one of THOSE i believe is very much a proactive division that is trying to keep things from, happening showing that presence and being ready for what we don't want to ever, happen but could happen at any.

47:21 Minute and uh, so and and we get a lot of parents that send us emails or kids that are reporting things to school resource. Officers now where you, know Little johnny's said he's gonna blow up the, School he's gonna blow up the school, Bus he's, gonna you, know shoot a teacher. Tomorrow we get those pretty regular and we take them. Serious and if they if it's if it's a laws, broke they get. CHARGED i have a zero tolerance for. That and that's big to be able to do, that but we have. To and uh and those school those security guys, know, hey last night we found that apparently a kid was supposed to show up At All Benny middle and do some. Damage so we're gonna have a deputy on that. School although we've solved it and realized that it may be a comment that was, made would know, nothing you, know to to support it other than a kid just making a super. Mistake they do that sometimes uh there's no really merit to. It but then again there's the ones that. Are and so we have a really good communication thing going. On this is carried over With Jody, purvis who's now our, superintendent who DOES i think a wonderful job he. Does Jody's, uh he's very good at making sure that he is very transparent with with with all the parents AND i get a lot of his text messages and that he's sending, out so he's keeping everybody. Informed and, uh what we what we don't want to happen is is these children

48:55 not enjoying getting education and being. Disturbed and every time we turn around we have to shut school down because of a kid put a rumor, out you, know and, look sometimes can be difficult TO differenti that you know, what what's the rumor was not a. Rumor but this this division has absolutely proved. Themselves they did a great. Job there's a lot of guys From, uh we have some retirement from The Battery City Police, department friends of mine that we've brought on that are very. CAPABLE i have some retired deputies that are very. Capable they still have to do their. Training they have to be post certified and have to have their their police officer standard training up to par and of course we provide that.

49:38 Training so these are not just you, know some retired guy with a seat props of these are legitimate law enforcement certified. Deputies and you can't work that school unless you have that. Certification and So i'm very proud of. It i'm so glad that we had the partnership with the school so it's a affordable to both of. Us and because these are the things that we can afford not to. Do you, know you you you, know any parent out there like me or love, me hate, me or, whatever you want to see that blue and white or any mark unit sitting in front of that school with your kid goes. There you want. That and it's, proactive it's very. Proactive and again it's not. IT i don't have them in every classroom where we would feel even, safer, Right but we we do the best that we can do with what we, have and we're doing a lot more than other people are able to, do not that they don't want to do, it but we have afforded, that we have been afforded the opportunity to do, this and so the plan is. WORKING i am a very open door type, sheriff like my deputies to bring me information or ideas that they, think, hey we can make this more, efficient we can do this, better and we look at it and, hey maybe maybe we can maybe do this or do, that so that kind of helps

51:09 be MORE i guess real well, rounded, uh in what we do every day to be able to again keep not only our citizens, safe keep our kids, safe put the criminals where they need to be behind. Bars we also programmed mean you touched on early we're not going to talk, about but there are criminals too that sometimes if you give them the, opportunity they're not a criminal. Anymore and and those are the kind of things that we try to work on This sheriff's. Office and my mission has always been. SIMPLE i just want to make sure that we serve and protect the people who lives in parish and make sure that when you go to bed at, night that you sleep sound and you don't have to worry about your kids riding a bike down the, street a drug deal going on in your front, yard that kind of. Stuff AND i know we're not one hundred percent, perfect BUT i think we do a really good job of making sure the community In Livingston parish is a safe place with the fastest growing parish here in the State. Louisiana that we've been able to maintain that safetiness for you as a, parent BECAUSE i can tell You i'm gonna speak for all the husbands that live here In Livingston. Parish when your wife says she's gonna run down at Juven crossing and go, shopping you don't even bat your. Eye but when she says she's going to cross the, bridge you probably tell her to grab her. Gun nailed. It, Yeah SO i don't even say any more about. That And i'm not talking bad about across the river because It sigoture is probably one of my closest, sheriff great, guy and they do. That

52:44 there's so much bigger than. Us they have a huge, city they have bigger issues and uh and That, look we arrest a lot of people over in the Juven road. Area we have a lot of shoplifting issues and it's not perfect over. There but my statement is what it, is and it's the. Truth. Yeah you you say grab the, GUN i, say don't go. THERE i, mean especially my daughters who were who are twenties? Now uh if they even mentioned going to certain aspects Of Baton, rouge even the mall area which used to be a pretty safe. Place now, yeah now you can go To Jeem yeah, there do your shopping and look in some of us a.

53:26 PERCEPTION i mean that's just how we know. THAT i mean there's areas And Baton rouge is very, safe and it's, it but it's just it's that feeling you get AND i don't want you to go across that, river like you just don't. Go why do you have to go? There and then look and a lot of that, too is is us because we know we got to go now, right that's, Right just go To Jim AND i don't want to go shopping. TODAY i don't want to have to cross that. RIVER i do it all the. Time that's just you, know that's who we. Are we're protective of them and our family and and you just can't help. It AND i JUST i know THAT i know the deputies we have, here the they, love they love this, parish they live in this, parish their kids go to school, here AND i know the compassion they do have for serving here In livington. Parish and that's the compassion THAT i try to show each and every day WHEN i go to work and try to make sure that we provide the citizens with what they have and and that has always been a safe place to, live work and raise your. Family and we're going to continue to do. That, yes that's what we're going to.

54:33 DO i, agree and and, uh before we get out of, HERE i. DO i would be very remiss IF i do not mention you've set behind the scenes a few times AND, uh trying to give you a, hint mad you know you have an amazing uh. Podcast, look, Folks, UH i can't think of many podcasts out there where you really get a human side you to look at the human side of what goes on in a large department like you get With behind The, scenes which is a podcast hosted by you where you feature not only cases that you have covered and closed with The livingston pair Of Sheriff's, office but also the.

55:19 People that are working. Them you the some of the programs we've talked about today are on, that such AS. Ikak you have several episodes With iicaq. On behind The. SCENES. Uh and if you've noticed The sheriff's been very sharp today when we've done this, podcast and that's because he has really worked himself into begin a heck of a podcaster quite, Frankly, uh make appreciate him and talent there that it has come out on you. THAT i didn't KNOW i, HAD i, guess but, uh you Know laurie AND I Laurie, steel who's my public information, officer you. Know And i'm saying this in front of it because she's hiding in the corner room over. Here but he AND i spoke about this and and and we were able to get to equipment and we were able to kind of set up a room in our training.

56:05 Facility AND i was a little reserved about, it WHICH i am about a lot of. Things and in, mind you, know commitment, issue you're trying to you're trying to do that but trying to be transparent with your people and trying to really show them and introduce what The Sheriff's office is all. About and and kind of came up with this behind the scenes With Sheriff Jason. HARD i didn't want it to be about me and wanted to be about what we do and our mission and what we accomplished each and every day and be very educational and and and and really take you behind the. Scenes and the way to do that is is to pull these these deputies was so many multiple personalities into a podcast, room sweating because they don't know what they, gonna you, know get, into and then watching them kind of relax a little bit and have a general conversation about a.

56:59 Case they and All i'm trying to do is tell you about, this but let them tell their. Stories and you are seeing the category of person you have is sitting. There. YEAH i mean these you have them came on the show that's been here ten, years some maybe a little less, today we had some twenty eight thirty, years and we've had some veterans and work in these cases that are truly amazing cases that when they get on the, scene they turn into a different person and they get it. Done AND i, mean we're we're working on a homicide that we worked on today AND i mean you you were, there you were You And jim gets to come in and listen to all. THIS i picked on you today BECAUSE i know when we're doing good Because jim taps his, Foot YEAH i, do and SO i. Observe i'm very good at that. TOO i observe. Things so but as we're, going you see how fast that case unfold and within hours we have a bad guy in handcuffs on a homicide and we're working with crime you, know stable these crime lab trying to you, know make sure we do the process of. Scene we have two, scenes we have multiple people that possibly. Witnesses it's a lot going, on but trying to put all that, together tell our story and uh and and make it you, know LIKE i, said, Interesting but my thing, IS i really want to show

58:30 the talent of the deputies that are sitting. There and and we even point out things that we've may be done wrong or a mistake that was. Made but also you, know this is how it came it came, about you, Know and that's the big thing about this podcast of making sure that we do take you behind the scenes and tell you the things that we want you to. Know AND i and we don't really hold. BACK i, mean we we try to say everything that we. Can and because that's what actually goes, on there's a lot of things that you don't, know, uh and you you and you shouldn't know without listening to his podcast of how these cases. Unfold that's, Right it's an accurate depiction of what it's like to be, uh you, know investigating that, case work in that. Case And i'll tell you, this one of the most amazing series you have done yet was.

59:25 The one that just rapped With Corporal Sean. Kelly. Uh this was was a way to learn about who this this, hero this man that that gave his life in law. Enforcement. Uh, literally who this man. Was you hear from his, daughter you hear from those that worked with, him, uh and what a personality he. WAS i was fortunate to know him personally and, uh just a au force in nature with his. Personality it's it's interesting to hear his friends talk about him and uh and see that contrast between that and his, daughter you, know who was.

1:00:08 Truly amazing young. Lady and you, know And i've been very fortunate and had the honor of speaking as some little small events would would For Corporal. Kelly AND i was very upfront in the very. BEGINNING i didn't really know showing that. WELL i knew of, Him i've shook his hand. Before we you, know he we served the same, community BUT i didn't really know. Him and through this, PODCAST i got to know him and listening to the stories from his friends and his, coworkers and it's LIKE i knew, him you, know and he was such a great guy and always wanting to be the first one to step up and train people and loved to joke behind the scenes and played pranks on his, neighbor which was Another Dylan springs, Officers, kooby you, know just learning their relationship ships and learned showing even he's just like we.

1:01:02 Are you, know he's a, father he was a, husband and he was one heck of a law enforcement, officer and he was a great friend and love serving his. Community and so those that whole episode gave me the opportunity to kind of meet them and actually at the, END i was, like you know, WHAT i now know Who corby show And kelly. Was that's. Right and because of that podcast now so many people who didn't will and. Do and uh so that's why those the these podcasts like this and the transparency that you, offer that's why it's so. Important and so thank you for opening, up you, know your department in that way where people can see that this was done by, choice sheriff or chose to do, this and uh and you know it's it's really a benefit to the entire.

1:01:53 Public, WELL i appreciate. It and again we and we have some very interesting cases that lives in. Parish you, know that's where the entertainment part comes. In. Uh BUT i also again like to make sure that we we introduced these cases in a way that it can not only just be a learning, point but, hey these are these are the deputies that are working your. Scenes you, know something that ever. Happens these are the ones with the boots on the ground that are you, know given their their their spare, time and a lot of a lot of these guys are getting called out to these scenes. There you, know look this one we just, did, uh which is the one happened in dealing springs on the And i'll go and give them a little hint uh over The Done road. Area it was the massage. Therapist uh that actually was went to a house and she gave.

1:02:36 Massages uh and you know she wants coming up missing and it was uh and we kind of just take you through the whole. Thing so we have these things that that go happen all the, time and we want to make it interesting as far as just telling the story and again point out the talent of these deputies and uh and and let you know, that, look we are. Prepared we we are very capable of doing this AND uh and that's kind of you, know keep things. Going but, again transparency is. Important we want you to you, know tuned, in listen AND uh and we don't always just do you know Those it's a variety of things that we talk about all over. The, game so everything from programs TO UH s R.

1:03:19 Os you did a podcast on. That you've done a podcast on The Financial Crimes, division. Which to me was one of the most, interesting most educational eye openers for me. MYSELF i, MEAN i know a lot about, that but that division there is kind of that, division, like, wow that's that's pretty. Impressive y'all are able to do. That you got to be a human calculator to figure it. Is AND i can go on and on about the different divisions and the things that they've accomplished and the GOOD i, know there's always those that we don't we don't get bring justice. To we're not able to make a good case ON. Uh we're we're we're never going to be, perfect but we try really, hard uh to be, perfect and it's just so some times it's, impossible but you just get, up brush your shoulders, off and keep going and try to do even better than next.

1:04:07 Time that's, Right and so we'll Link i'm gonna link in the description of this podcast the link so you can go follow on YouTube behind the scenes With Sheriff Jason ard and you just click that follow button and you'll be notified every time a new episode, Drops so make sure you do that before we. Get out of. Here one more, thing back To Christmas. Crusade i'll just spit out some. Dates here for. People applications are being Accepted december first through, fifth and eighth through the twelfth r and so that'll be at the training, center. Correct so, yes the training center over On Woodside. Drive we actually start collecting the, donations the monetary donation and toys On november the twenty, NINTH i believe it. Is that's A saturday After, thanksgiving. Yep and so you will see deputies outside of all Three walmart. Locations you will see them at Bass pro and those deputies you can drop off new. Toys you can try drop off the monetary.

1:05:08 DONATIONS i think we now have A qr. Code you can actually just make a donation that way and so Then december to first we'll have we'll be taking. Applications the best way to do this if you will download THE lpso, app The fair Of shares. App you can go you can actually get a print out of whatever you. Need you can actually it will take you and give you a guideline of everything you need to know about Our Christmas crusade. Program we have a lot of people want to help. Out they want to, do you, know collect. Toys that will help you get the information you need by just downloading. App that's right in business owners with big. Pockets they are a nonprofit five oh one.

1:05:48 C so you can get a tax. Donation you can't all my business center friends out there that are looking for that end of the. Year uh you know what pay Sheriff jason or It's christmas crusade and not uh you know the tax man at the end of the year with federal rumber. Attas is such a bad, sheriff Right AND i know they say, It Well i'm already giving it to. You, Look i'm only the collector. COLLECTING i only. Collected that's my, duty it's worn. Duty and The constitution tell ME i have to do. It that's. It that's. It we're going to honor The, constitution that's for. Sure, well thank you so much for coming. On we should do this at least once a. Year maybe just have a wrap up, of, uh you, know what's been going on in policing that year and be proud to talk about all those. Things BUT i do appreciate you coming.

1:06:37 On thank you for all you do. For The sheriff's. Office. Uh there is no one more pro police Than Jim. Chapman AND i can tell, you, UH i am super proud of every one of you over there so many personal friends With Livingston Paris sheriff's. Office AND i do want to say. This you, Know halloween just, passed and one THING i noticed this, year and this IS i don't think it's a political, thing but in stark contrast to the last four. Years let's, say one THING i told my wife, was you, KNOW i don't see as many policemen and firemen dressed up these kids that come to your house and you hain't candy To this, YEAR i saw a ton of them and that made me happy because WHEN i was a, kid that was the first THING i ever wanted to be was a homicide of all.

1:07:26 Things maybe that makes me a little bit. CRAZY i don't, know BUT i was the fan of a show where the guy that the star of that show Was Fred. Dryer it was Called hunter and he Was, YEAH i loved that show and he was a homicide detective and that's WHAT i wanted to be at about twelve years. Old and So i'm glad it seems like kids are going back to such an honor. Profession it's funny you say. THAT i actually have received about a half a dozen photos of random of, somewhere random people somewhere or you, know friends of mine with their kids either with a cop hat, on a cowboy hat. On they was a sheriff For. Halloween and it was a very as as always a little it makes, you you, know heartfield warm whenever you know those kids are wanting to be a police officer or a. Firefighter and SO i think it was a several little cowboy hats that were popping up every now and then with the sheriff badge on. It, yeah it just makes you feel that.

1:08:24 Love that it really. Does and so thank you so much for. Listening please check out, look thank these guys At christmas. Crusde they don't do it for the, thanks but go up to, them shake their hand and tell them thank you for keeping us safe here In Livingston parish when you see them out and about collecting these toy. Donations and until next, Time I'm Jim chapman reminding you love your, community support local business and local sheriff's, departments and keep. Leading thank you very, much