Sheriff’s candidate Jackson: Modernize

When he decided to seek the office of Iberia Parish Sheriff for a second time, Bobby Jackson said he aspired to make the law enforcement agency more contemporary to the times.

Jackson, who owns Jackson Investigations and Bail Bonds, said the agency has long relied on “the tactics of the ’60s” and it was long overdue to make improvements to perform police work “the right way.”

“It’s time for us to move on from these tactics and more into the modern age,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s time for us to take our Sheriff’s Office and give it to the people.”

Jackson, 51, was a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office under former sheriffs Romo Romero and Sid Hebert, primarily working narcotics and eventually rising to commander of investigations. He graduated from LSU during that time in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a political science minor.

The U.S. Army veteran also graduated from the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Miltiary Intelligence Officer Advanced Course and Combined Arms Service and Staff School. In 2001, Jackson graduated from the FBI National Academy and he served as assistant chief of staff focusing on intelligence for the Theater Logistics Command in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, earning a Bronze Star.

Jackson also previously served as chief of enforcement for state Alcohol and Tobacco Control. He said he thought his variety of experience made him uniquely qualified for sheriff and made him the most contemporary candidate.

“You want someone to enforce the law fairly for everyone,” he said.

Two major issues he said he hopes to tackle are what he called outdated equipment across the agency and diversifying the agencies deputies to foster a positive attitude change.

“To me, the department should mirror what the community is,” Jackson said, citing Iberia Parish’s ethnically diverse population. “You just have to make the job more attractive to them.”

Jackson, a lifelong New Iberia resident, has been married to Melisa Jackson for 20 years, with whom he has a 20-year-old son, Nick, and 19-year-old son, Tyler. He also has stepson Robert, 27, stepdaughter Elizabeth, 24, and 7-month-old granddaughter Aniston.

Jackson faces incumbent Louis Ackal, David “Spike” Boudoin, Roberta Boudreaux and Joe LeBlanc. Early voting is Oct. 10 and 12-17. Election Day is Oct. 24.