Jefferson Parish Sherrif Hopefuls Debate

Section: Business

Times Picayune

With the final drive toward the Nov. 17 sheriff election under way, the candidates formed two distinct sides in a forum on Thursday: the three outsiders argued that crime is out of control and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office needs change, while the longtime deputy chief touted years of programs and accomplishments.

Interim Sheriff Newell Normand, who was Sheriff Harry Lee's top executive and preferred successor, even seemed to distance himself physically from the other three contenders, leaning away from Melvin "Teddy" Burns Jr., Julio Castillo and Peter Dale at the debate table in the Harahan Senior Center. The Alliance for Good Government used that venue for the first major sheriff forum since Saturday's primary cleared the ballot of several other local and state races.

Lee's death on Oct. 1 pushed the primary for Jefferson Parish sheriff into November. And in the considerable void left by the legendary Lee, Normand has become the quasi-incumbent, saying he didn't agree with every aspect of Lee's leadership, such as his involving deputies in raising campaign money, but that the Sheriff's Office has a strong record in fighting crime.

"The reality is the JPSO has been a good, clean, aggressive law enforcement agency that has driven crime down since 1980," Normand said, citing long-term statistics that show falling crime.

The other candidates argued that the statistics are deceiving. They recounted stories about post-Hurricane Katrina robberies and other incidents in their neighborhoods and across the parish.

"I feel that it's time that we change tactics and aggressively attack crime," said Dale, who serves as police chief in Harahan. "Crime is out of hand. Crime is coming in. It's not all being reported."

Castillo, a building contractor and landlord, said, "The truth is, crime is out there, and we're not doing enough. We have lost the grasp and control."

And Burns, a former deputy and now transportation coordinator for a diving company, alluded to crime spilling into Jefferson from New Orleans. "We are fighting a losing battle," Burns said. "Folks are no longer feeling safe. They're no longer feeling protected."

Normand objected to his opponents' suggestions that the Sheriff's Office is losing its grip on crime.

"It's very disingenuous for these individuals to stand up here and tell you that crime is rampant," said Normand, who said the Sheriff's Office has focused intensely on stopping criminals. "We have targeted criminals. We have incapacitated them."

The three challengers argued for increasing the use of community policing strategies, under which deputies immerse themselves in neighborhoods in an effort to detect emerging threats. Normand argued the Sheriff's Office has successfully employed such techniques for years and will continue.

Burns, Castillo and Dale said they want to publicize the Sheriff's Office budget to a greater extent and involve more groups in forming the budget. Burns wants to assemble leaders from other government agencies to examine spending at the Sheriff's Office. Castillo wants to gather input from experts outside Jefferson Parish without a vested interest. And Dale said he wants to publish proposed budgets on the Internet or in booklets.

Normand said the office already holds public hearings, invites input from business groups and makes the document available to anyone who asks, in accordance with public records laws.

All the candidates did agree on one point: that they would not pressure deputies to help in campaign fund-raising. No matter who is elected, that represents a sharp break with the practice under Lee. The colorful former sheriff was often criticized for openly tying employee promotions to political support.