Sheriff-elect Josh McAllister shared his plans for office with the Winnfield Kiwanis Club at its May 1 meeting. McAllister will take on his new role July 1.
The incoming sheriff told Kiwanians that he will take his oath of office in ceremony June 29 in the Winnfield Civic Center. With him last week at the Kiwanis presentation was Mike Gilliam who will serve as the office’s chief deputy.
“I have a vision for Winn Parish,” McAllister said. “Our parish would have been in good hands, no matter who had won.” A leader will succeed if he has good people around him, working as a team, he suggested, adding that while he won’t micromanage their work, he will have standards and expectations for their performance. “It’s not my office. It’s yours, the people of this parish. Everyone who works for me will know that.”
He said he will have a drugs task force, pointing out that 80% of the crime in this area is drug-related. But it will take time to see a difference. He pledged to have a school resource officer at all of the schools. Related will be police escort services for school sporting events, without cost to the schools.
McAllister said his team will step into the Sheriff’s Office at midnight June 30 and will have a budget that “is totally transparent,” noting he hasn’t had access to some of the current information so will see the office’s standing at that point.
Lower jail costs will be passed on to the Police Jury, giving the parish more resources for work within the community, he said. “If we don’t work with other entities, our parish will continue to dwindle and die.” And he will encourage the public to communicate with his office. “If we don’t hear about the problems out there, how can we fix them?” Other programs he touched on include those to protect the elderly, a parish animal control program that cooperates with other local groups, and improved technology.
Despite its small population, Winn is one of Louisiana’s largest parishes in size and McAllister told the members that he plans to hire officers from all over to provide for faster response to on calls. The officers will be trained and updated, capable even to give life-saving aid.
In response to questions, McAllister said many of the employees currently working with the Sheriff’s Office plan to remain with the new administration and interest is good, with officers being among the highest paid in the region. Gregg Davies “will likely be our lead investigator,” the speaker said, commenting on Davies’ “vast institutional knowledge of that office.” Police Jury-appointed Cindy Tilton will continue in her role as director of the local Office of Emergency Preparedness to serve the entire parish.
He responded that he looks forward to assuming the responsibilities of working with Winn Correctional Center, now a federal facility managed by LaSalle Corrections. Warden Keith Deville was a guest at the May 1 meeting. “Not to mention the employment that means to our parish, the ICE facility brings in about $1 million to the Sheriff’s Office each year. I’ll never come to you and ask for a tax increase.”
McAllister concluded with an observation he’s made since beginning his campaign. “Many politicians make promises that go away when they take office. I filed my Position Papers before I started and they will be posted at the door of my office so you can make sure I’m doing what I said. I don’t see myself as a politician but rather a man trying to do the best for this community.”