Red letter day for St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office

FRANKLIN — St. Mary Parish Interim Sheriff Scott Anslum chose customer service for his first official act recently by marking all nine patrol units with bright red lettering in order for the public to easily identify supervisors on patrol in the parish’s streets and neighborhoods.

“I wanted to make our supervisors more easily accessible to those who may wish to speak with them,” Anslum said.

“It is part of my commitment to providing the best police service to the people of St. Mary Parish with every interaction with the public.”

Anslum became the 18th man on the job Jan 8. He succeeded Sheriff Mark Hebert, who retired.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Det. Traci Landry said the lettering cost the department $300.

The Sheriff’s Office is primarily entrusted with patrolling the unincorporated areas of St. Mary Parish. The towns of Baldwin and Berwick as well as Franklin and Morgan City, have their own police departments.

Lt. Alexander Barnes is one of nine supervisors in the Sheriff’s Office. He said the lettering will enhance the law enforcement agency’s role in the community.

“Well, the first thing that comes to mind, is that people will see and approach us, instead of calling the office with their questions. We will be more accessible,” Barnes said.

The lieutenant has been on the job for nearly five years. He said some of the most popular questions he is asked are directions, questions about custody issues and the amount of money to pay certain tickets. 

Many times, he said, people stop and approach him while he is pumping gas.

“You’d be surprised how personal folks get — the real life scenarios they paint are incredible when it comes down to custody battles,” Barnes said.

At other times, Barnes said he is stopped while he and his deputies are blocking roads with barricades in order to close them.

“Believe it or not, they’ll pull up, roll down their window and ask, ‘Is the road closed?’ People will be people, I guess,” he said.

Anslum joined the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy in 1998. He replaced Hebert, who retired the same day, to care for his ailing wife.

He will serve as interim sheriff until this fall, when St. Mary Parish voters will elect a new top brass to fill Hebert’s unexpired term. He most recently served as chief deputy for the Sheriff’s Office after working two years as warden of the St. Mary Parish Jail.

“I have learned much from the people of our community. Without their support, we cannot be a success,” Anslum said.

“Every day I and others wear the badge is a privilege. It is a symbol of trust the public has placed in myself and in every member of our department. I see it as something sacred, that we should never betray.”