Former warden seeks to be next Iberia sheriff

Former Iberia Parish Jail warden Roberta Boudreaux will run for Iberia Parish Sheriff this fall.

Boudreaux, 48, a lifelong Iberia Parish resident, currently works as a liaison officer managing expenditures with the Vermilion Parish Law Enforcement Center. She first worked for the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office as a deputy 25 years ago, eventually working her way to being the jail warden. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology at Northeast Louisiana University, now the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

In her candidacy announcement, Boudreaux referenced recent media reports on incidents of abuse detailed in lawsuits and captured on video at the Iberia Parish Jail.

“This is not law enforcement,” she said in the announcement. “It is an arrogant abuse of power by our current sheriff that now has our parish under investigation and places Iberia taxpayers and families at risk to millions of dollars in lawsuits. It does not reflect the attitude of law enforcement professionals here in Iberia Parish.”

Boudreaux said if elected, her measures to run a better jail would save taxpayers’ money by reducing the number of lawsuits and investigations. She said she would provide the deputies “real leadership” and respect their jobs and their families.