Sheriff Craig Webre is once again reminding residents that a site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) will arrive Monday, December 2, 2019, to examine all aspects of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

“Verification by this team that the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence,” Sheriff Webre said.

As the Sheriff’s Office seeks reaccreditation under the Law Enforcement program, this review will also include a review of its Communications and Training Academy sections in efforts to achieve separate accreditation under CALEA. As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. The session will be conducted at the Main Courthouse in the Division “A” courtroom at 201 Green Street in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment teams, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call (985) 449-4421 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Comments will be taken by the Law Enforcement Assessment Team. As part of the process for Public Safety Communications accreditation, the public and employees are invited to call (985) 387-4410 between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. As part of the process for Training Academy accreditation, the public and employees are invited to call (985) 387-4410 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Community Security Section Office at 200 Patriot Street in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The contact person is Deputy Lesley Hill at (985) 242-5526.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office must comply with nearly 600 standards in order to maintain the accredited status of the entire agency and achieve accredited status for Training and Communications, Sheriff Webre said. “We have maintained accredited status for nearly 20 years and the community has seen the benefits firsthand in the professional way the men and women of this agency serve the public,” Sheriff Webre added.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding CALEA®, please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 or call (703) 352-4225 or email