Endorsement: Julian Whittington for Sheriff

My Bossier is endorsing Julian Whittington for Sheriff of Bossier Parish.

Julian grew up in Benton, has an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from BPCC and a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Northeast Louisiana University (now UL Monroe).

Julian served Bossier City as a reserve officer for 4 years, from 1983-1987, then worked as a Detention Coordinator for Rutherford house before becoming a probation officer for the Caddo Parish Juvenile Probation Office.

In 1988 he started on patrol with the Bossier Sheriff’s Department and was P.O.S.T. certified in 1989.

In his years with the Sheriff’s Office, he has served as Supervisor for the Bossier City Substation, Supervisor/Manager of the Special Services Division, Public Information Officer, and Supervisor of the Tax and Civil Division.

He was one of the department’s first D.A.R.E officers, organizing the D.A.R.E Summer Camp at Barksdale.  He also trained other D.A.R.E. officers from around the country.  He was elected President of the Louisiana D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association.

In 2005 Julian attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, which involves intense physical training and law enforcement education.  On his return home he was promoted to Chief Criminal Deputy and served in that capacity for over 5 years, supervising and administering all of the departments in the office.  He also served as Inspector General, overseeing all legal issues.

He is also a Boy Scout Leader, has been active in 4-H all of his life, and belongs to the Bossier Noon Exchange Club, Bossier City Lions Club, and the Bossier Chamber of Commerce.

He has been married to his wife, Melissa, for 28 years and has two children.  Julian and Melissa are members of Cypress Baptist Church.

In considering the candidates and their experience, I considered several things.

First of all, the character of the candidates.  On this test, all three pass with flying colors.

Then experience in law enforcement.  The other candidates may have more patrol and detective experience, but with four years as a Bossier City reserve officer, two years on patrol and five years as Chief Criminal Deputy, Julian is well qualified in this area.

The policing that the sheriff does is somewhat unique, in that he offers direct policing and patrol to less than half of the population of the parish, but that is spread out over 843 square miles.  Of course, the sheriff always stands ready to assist the local police departments.

The Sheriff is also in charge of courthouse security.

You also have to consider that the sheriff is the executive officer of the Bossier Parish District Court system, and as such has to serve citations, summons, subpoenas, notices, and other process, and shall execute writs, mandates, orders, and judgments directed to him by the district courts, the courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court.

The Sheriff executes service on almost 20,000 papers per year.

Upon the execution of a writ of attachment, sequestration, fieri facias or seizure and sale under executory process, the sheriff is directed by the court to seize the subject property. And, in some cases, these seizures may lead to the public auction of the seized property.

The sheriff is also the ex-officio tax collector for the parish, and as such collects all property taxes and disburses them to the proper taxing authorities.

In addition to that, the Sheriff operates three prisons, and must have first hand knowledge of daily operations and of the laws governing that operation.

Julian Whittington is the only candidate who has experience not only in working in all of these departments, but in supervising them.  The new sheriff must not only have experience on the streets and roads enforcing the law (which Julian has), but must first and foremost be a good manager.

Julian Whittington is the clear choice for Sheriff of Bossier Parish.