Repairing a disconnect with community is essential

LYDIA — Roberta Boudreaux said she hopes to instill a culture change if elected to the office of Iberia Parish Sheriff Oct. 24.

When she announced her campaign in May, Boudreaux turned attention to the many lawsuits filed against the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office related to conduct of deputies both in the field and at the Iberia Parish Jail. The former warden of the same jail said she hoped to reel in what she called an abuse of power that hurt inmates and costs taxpayers money for the lawsuits and settlements.

“I think it’s simple,” she said in a recent phone interview. “You treat people with respect and you get respect.”

Boudreaux, 49, was born and raised in Iberia Parish and now lives in Lydia. After earning her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Northeast Louisiana University (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe), she started as a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office 25 years ago.

By then a jail warden, Boudreaux left the Sheriff’s Office in mid-2008 to join the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, where she works today as a liaison officer managing the Vermilion Parish Law Enforcement Center’s budget.

“It’s been a goal for years,” she said on her election bid. “I thought the opportunity was right. I probably started getting interested around 2011.”

Boudreaux said the fact she’s managed multimillion-dollar budgets for several years gives her an edge against her competition and her psychology background gives her a unique understanding of managing a jail.

“I think my psychology background gives me a good read on people and the ability to communicate with people,” she said.

Boudreaux said she ultimately wants to repair a “disconnect” between parish residents and law enforcement by changing the office’s attitude.

“I think it goes back to management and training,” she said. “I think we need to be more efficient with training and have oversight with management.”

Boudreaux has been married to Jimmy Boudreaux for 25 years, with whom she has a 22-year-old daughter, Tori Boudreaux. She faces incumbent Sheriff Louis Ackal, David “Spike” Boudoin, Bobby Jackson and Joe LeBlanc.

Early voting runs Saturday and Monday through Oct. 17. Election Day is Oct. 24.