FRANKLIN —  St. Mary Parish Interim Sheriff Scott Anslum is focused.

Long-time friend and mentor, Artis Jackson, now a Det. Lt with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, said that’s how he best describes him, because of his love for law enforcement.

“From the day I met him, I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice,” Jackson said.

Jackson met Anslum 26 years ago, when he started his career with the Baldwin Police Department, where Jackson had been employed for seven years. 

From day one, he said Anslum was always at work on time, doing  reports, staying late if he had to, “always striving to take it up a notch from the day before.”

“He was the guy then, but he is your guy now with that same work ethic. You call him, he’s there,” Jackson said.

Sheriff Office Supervisor Monica Cox, a 22 year veteran employee, said she could think of no one better to lead St. Mary Parish then Scott Anslum.

“He’s a people person, always concerned about the community, and his employees.”

Cox supervises the civil division of the sheriff’s office, and said she is impressed with Anslum’s open door policy, and how he bases firm decisions after researching every detail. 

“He wants it run correctly,” she said.  “This man has worked in every department. He’s the best for the job.”

Lt Mathew Moore, said he is excited about Anslum becoming the department’s top boss.

“We investigate crime and enforce the law, and someone with his extensive background has the knowledge and capabilities to back his people up, while managing them properly and making sure the department is being run correctly,” Moore said. 

Anslum. 44. became the 18th Sheriff of St. Mary Parish on Jan 8th. He replaced Mark Herbert, who retired the same day to care for his ailing wife.

 Anslum is serving in an interim capacity until November, when voters will go to the polls to elect either he or a challenger, to serve the remaining year of Hebert’s term.

Then, in the fall of 2019, St. Mary voters will again decide whether to elect the winner of the 2018 November election, or decide another candidate, to serve the office from 2020 to 2024.

After graduating from Franklin Senior High School, Anslum joined the law enforcement profession as a reserve officer with the Baldwin Police Department in 1992. He later  accepted a full time patrol position in 1997. 

 He joined the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in 1998 where he worked as a patrol deputy. 

 In 2000, he was promoted into the Narcotics Division. While assigned to this division, he served as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) liaison, Director of the St. Mary Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant where he was assigned to command the Narcotics Division. 

In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and in 2012, he reached the rank of Major and supervised numerous divisions within the criminal division. 

Anslum also served as the initial Accreditation Manager for the Sheriff’s Office from 2012 until 2015 and was instrumental in assisting the sheriff’s office in reaching its goal of obtaining accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). 

After serving as warden at St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, he transferred back into the Criminal Division in 2015.

Former Sheriff Mark Hebert promoted Anslum to Chief Deputy, in 2017. 

Just one month on the job, the sheriff said one of his big objectives is to find alternative revenue streams to thwart the downturn in parish sales tax revenues.

His next objective is to become more innovative with detectives and deputies in learning how to combat the latest trends in drug activity. 

Although an average day begins at 5 a.m. with an occasional workout or a visit to a parish restaurant for breakfast, to get a feel of community news, he said his phone doesn’t stop ringing.

“It’s rare that I leave a room without my phone in my hand, or on my hip; but that’s okay. Whatever t takes to get the job done, to protect our citizens,” Anslum said. 

The sheriff met his wife Stephanie (Daigle) when they were working in New Iberia. Stephanie said she  was selling jewelry and he was working loss prevention where he would work internal theft investigations.

“I learned rather quickly that my husband was a straight arrow and was driven to always do the right thing,” she said.

“His job is part of our lives. He is always thinking about the job, the people. He truly loves what he does and he is good at it. I support him 100 percent, and am proud to call him my husband,” she said. 

The Anslum’s have two children,” a son, Scott Jr, 20, and a daughter, Ashley, 17.

“It takes a special person to be a first responder, risking your life every day to try and make the community a better environment for others,” son Scott Jr. said.

Ashley said her dad has shown her first hand, how hard work pays off, and that dreams really do come true.

“Sometimes, work gets hectic, but we always come together and work through it as family should.  I look up to him He is my hero,” Ashley said.

If you know someone in the Teche Area who would be an interesting weekend profile, please submit the name. Call 321-6766 or send an email to news@daily-iberian.com.