Because I'm Your, Mom!

Ascension Parish Sheriffs; Leaders and Legends of Law
By Joey Fryoux

"Ascension Parish, with the cities of Gonzales and Donaldsonville, has been recognized as one of the state's fastest growing and richest areas. For many years the parish economy was confined chiefly to the production of sugar cane. Today, while cane is still the most important agricultural crop, many other industries have sprung up. Additionally, the parish's  close proximity to metropolitan Baton Rouge has attracted many rural-loving people to build homes and raise families in the parish's ideal communities and commute to their work in Baton Rouge. At the same time it is attracting recognition for a comparatively low crime rate."

This information was reported by the Ascension Tourist Commission in January of 1954. The report further extolled the virtues of the law enforcement departments of the parish headed by Sheriff Hickley Waguespack, Gonzales Police Chief Leslie "Red" Bourque, and Donaldsonville Police Chief Leo Mattingly. These leaders were commended for their supreme spirit of cooperation in their mission to provide the parish with the finest law enforcement protection in the state. They remained steadfast to this resolve even in the face of short supplies and an ever increasing growth rate in the population. In fact it was this same resolve that allowed them to, not merely meet the demands of the times, but to greatly modernize and equip the department as never before. It was a job begun far later than optimal, but they were none the less determined and became steadily and undeniably successful.

Fast-forward a little over 50 years and many of these same statements can be heard today at any family gathering, business meeting, or church social. Now, just as then, the parish dedicated to the "Ascension of Our Lord", in August of 1772 experiences its growing pains under the watchful eye of one of the finest sheriff's departments in the state. In fact, Sheriff Jeff Wiley's tenure has created the most technologically advanced, experienced, well managed sheriff's departments in history. It has been nationally recognized for its advanced organization and its significant contributions in the areas of officer training and in the development of strategies for the war on terror. The department is the latest installment in a long line of  effective crime fighting teams since the Third Territorial Legislature created the office of parish sheriff on March 16, 1810.

On December 20, 1803 France formally transferred the province to the United States and the American flag at last flew over Louisiana and the pioneer settlers of the Catholic Church Parish of Ascension. A year later, on December 4, 1804 the Orleans Territory is divided into twelve counties. The county of Acadia is born comprised of the parishes of Ascension and St. James. These parishes are known as the first and second Acadian Coast. In 1805 when the first county officials are named, Gaspard Dubuys is appointed the first district sheriff. This district position would not be eliminated immediately when  individual parishes would create their own sheriff's departments, but would eventually fall out of the plan for governing the state. That Office of Parish Sheriff  would be created on March 16,1810. It is an appointed office not an  elected position, and Walter Mears serves as the first appointed Sheriff of Ascension Parish. He served four years, 1811-1816.

A contract dated September 14, 1806 describes an agreement with William Donaldson, the founder of Donaldsonville, to build the town hall and jail at his expense. It was destroyed by fire and in 1810 it became necessary to build another court house and jail. Again, Mr. Donaldson stepped up and donated the land which is the sight of the court house today. This too was destroyed by a fire in May of 1846. Another building was constructed in March 1847 which was also destroyed by fire during the Civil War. Again it was rebuilt only to suffer the same fate of fire in 1862 following the bombardment of Donaldsonville ordered by Admiral Farragut in retaliation for the resistance by confederate soldiers in the area. The parish was without a court house and jail for some time and in 1866 Sheriff Joseph Gonzales leased a portion of the Johnson Female Institute to serve as a court room and clerk's office. Another building was constructed on the sight to serve as court house and jail and would be used as such for about twenty years. It is the building now referred to as the "old jail". The present court house was constructed in 1889 while Sheriff W.E Bateman was in office.

Throughout these many years the population of the parish grew steadily as more people and more cultures discovered the bountiful hunting and fishing and rich farm lands available to support their families in Ascension Parish. A population of 2,219 in 1810 had grown to 23,887 in 1910. Many fine men dealt with this increase in population and with its ever increasing demands for effective law enforcement during these formative years of the parish. Several of them had extended years of service with multiple terms in office. Some of these include Hubert Treille who served 19 years beginning in 1827. John Comstock served a 13 year tenure starting in 1846, Peter Jones 12 years in 1876, S. H. Martin 17 years starting in 1891, then two gentlemen with back to back 12 year terms beginning with Edward Hanson in 1908 and George Richard in 1920. Lester Gonzales followed with yet another 12 year stint in 1936.

The so called "modern era" for the parish as well as for its sheriff's department began with the election of a man who ran for the office almost as an after thought. His name was Hickley Waguespack and his election in 1948 marked a revolutionary change in the manner in which the department was run and subsequently in the lives of the citizens of Ascension. The designation of Ascension was that of a rural parish and even though it had grown considerably the issues facing law enforcement were still in many ways elementary. It was news for example when in 1954 Sheriff Waguespack announced the directive to dress all deputies in uniform as a way to help professionalize the department's image. There were however more serious problems to deal with as well and Hickley¹s  legacy is that of dealing with those major political concerns in the same fair, efficient, and effective manner he had dealt with the more minor issues. No matter how minor or grave the ordinance or situation, its enforcement is the responsibility of the parish sheriff. During his 24 year tenure, Sheriff Waguespack increased his staff from 6 deputies to a well trained force of more than 50 law enforcement professionals. He was greeted to the political world in the midst of corruption developed during the "Old Regime" when the parish was infested with organized crime and rampant gambling. By 1949 he had effectively shut down the gambling rings, significantly curbed crime in the parish, and created an atmosphere of safety in the minds of the people. It was evident to all that truly there was a "new sheriff in town" and the fact that this was attributed to Hickley and his organization is demonstrated in his six subsequent re-elections.

Perhaps his greatest achievement came when Waguespack exhibited supreme management and operational abilities in handling the control of the federally mandated desegregation laws in the early 1960's. His was one of few parishes to handle this volatile time in American history with a minimum of disruption  and virtually no violence. He was so adept at handling these race relations that a feature article was done on him in "EBONY" magazine. As his notoriety grew so did his capability. These skills proved beneficial in helping  promote a climate of industrial and economic growth in the parish never before seen.

The accomplishments of Sheriff Waguespack are legendary. It is said that "man has few     challenges more difficult than following a legend. Only the strongest, most confident, most prepared of men should even  consider the task." Enter the Honorable Harold Tridico. Tridico is elected for his initial term in 1974 and for the next 22 years he would oversee law enforcement with an iron fist and an iron jaw. The unprecedented growth and popularity of the parish presented problems to his administration that heretofore may have been unfathomable to Sheriff Tridico's predecessors. Despite economic recession, escalating race relations, and a growing national crime rate, Tridico's performance, his insightful preparation for the future of crime fighting, and his instinctive organizational skills for law enforcement more than just continued the momentum built in previous administrations. The confidence that he instilled in the community for his ability to run the sheriff's department is nowhere more evident than in the fact that he was re-elected five consecutive times. It is without question that Harold Tridico will be forever considered one of Ascension Parish¹s greatest administrators and one of its most successful law enforcement officials.

Through much of the remarkable career of Sheriff Tridico, his right hand man, his "boy wonder", his most promising protege, was his Chief Deputy Jeffrey Wiley. Sheriff Wiley was elected in 1996, re-elected twice and continues to serve in that capacity 10 years after being given that first opportunity to serve. If following one legend is considered a daunting task, then following two local legends could have felt overwhelming, and the people of Ascension once again proved their collective wisdom in choosing Sheriff Wiley. Few could have known in 1996 how insightful, intellectual, imaginative, and impressive this "young turk" would be in his performance of the job. Amid the fastest and largest growth period ever in the parish, and embroiled in one of the most turbulent periods of cut backs and deficit spending by the federal government, and performing through a tremendously severe blow to the parish's economic  support engine (the decline of the petrochemical industry in our area) Sheriff Wiley has wowed even his most ardent detractors. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Department has become one of the most technologically savvy and advanced departments in the state. It is nationally recognized for its organization, communication,   and crime fighting systems and expertise. Sheriff Wiley and his department have been recognized as leaders in the world of law enforcementas well as in the war on terror. Police departments from around the world visit Ascension to study what is considered "The Model" for local law enforcement and to learn from its leadership.

Life in Ascension Parish is comfortable, enjoyable, recreational, and prideful. We enjoy the finer things in life and describe it as the definitive American way. We take great solace in being able to exist in the joy and comfort of our homes and in our community. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the many members of law enforcement who¹s work every day allows us to partake in these simple pleasures. Above all we are forever thankful and take this moment to express our recognition to the leaders of the generations of  officers and support staff in our law enforcement organizations.  We here, now salute the long line of Sheriffs of Ascension Parish.