CHARLES F. “CHUCK” WAGNER, JR.

3202 Jackson Street

Alexandria, Louisiana 71303

Telephone 318.445.6682

Facsimile 318.445.5098

With the election just two weeks away, this will likely be my last written communication to you as a department before the new Sheriff is known.  Since October 20th, I have had the chance to speak with many of you personally, some of you individually and others in small groups.  I would like to have addressed the entire department at once, but I understand that there are factors at play in this election which prevent that from being possible.  Nonetheless, I sincerely appreciate the support and encouragement that comes from within the department.  The reason I write to you now, as before, is to address and clarify my ideas, and to attempt to dispel the false myths or rumors that may have surfaced since my last letter.  By putting this in writing, I can be held accountable by you and the public for the statements that I make.

First and foremost, let me address the issue of the continued employment of all employees of the sheriff’s department.  No matter how many times I repeat that I will not terminate any employee for their support of another candidate during this campaign, the rumors to the contrary seem to continually circulate.  Let me make this perfectly clear, everyone employed by the sheriff’s department will have the opportunity to continue their employment at the sheriff’s department.  I WILL NOT FIRE ANYONE FOR SUPPORTING MIKE SLOCUM.  I even heard the rumor that certain people will not be “re-hired” after the election.  This is absolutely ludicrous.  Everyone who is employed will remain employed, no one has to be re-hired.

I fully understand the pressure placed on you by the various powers that be.  I am also fully aware that many of you are just going through the motions for fear of retaliation.  The petition being circulated throughout the department is a prime example of what I call heavy-handed campaign tactics.  I, along with members of my campaign staff, have had numerous telephone calls from deputies who were scared to death not to sign the petition.  In a department whose primary obligation is to protect and serve the people of Rapides Parish, this is absolutely unacceptable.  Like I said in my first letter, the employees of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department should not be forced to campaign, especially while on duty, for a candidate seeking the office of Sheriff.  I want you to spend your time on duty serving the people of this parish, your time off duty with your friends and family, and your hard earned money on your family.

There has been some concern, apparently, over the hiring requirements I mentioned in my first letter.  Let me be crystal clear on this point: the standards which I propose, including physical and psychological evaluations, will only apply to newly hired employees.  Current members of the department would be “grandfathered” in or exempt from those requirements which, as you all know, is standard practice when implementing new hiring requirements in any law enforcement agency.  These standards are not designed to be nor will they in any way be used to terminate current employees.  Rather, these standards are designed to better serve our citizens with the best possible department.

Regarding the pay scale of the department, many of you have expressed to me your dissatisfaction of how arbitrary the salaries are in the department.  I am committed to providing equal pay to employees with equal time and equal rank, regardless of political affiliation or race.  I am also committed to creating a pay structure with built-in salary and merit increases so that employees will be able to better plan their futures based on their expected incomes.

Of all the rumors that have been started throughout this campaign, those dealing with my proposed administration and possible chief deputy are probably the most disturbing to current employees.  First, I have made absolutely no decision regarding my selection of a chief deputy, or any other member of my staff.  I have not promised one single job to anyone, and I will not start now.  Contrary to the rumors, I have no intention of bringing in any retired RPSO employees or anyone from the State Police to work in this department.  There are plenty of qualified people within the sheriff’s department to fill these positions.  I intend to put together a transition team which will include current employees of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department.  This transition team, along with the advice and suggestions of every employee, will have significant input in selecting a chief deputy, division commanders and other staff members.  Preference will be given to current employees of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department in selecting persons to fill these positions.  Moreover, there will be equal opportunity afforded to members of every race and gender.  Above all, my job, and that of the transition team, will be to ensure that these critical positions are filled with the best and brightest candidates.  If someone tells you that I have selected someone to fill any position in the department, they are lying.

As for corrections, I have absolutely no intention or desire to close the halfway house.  In spite of what you may have been told, there is ample revenue to utilize current jail space to house local criminals (pre-trial detainees).  Our job, first and foremost, is to protect the citizens of Rapides Parish from the criminals that prey on our community.  It is unacceptable for these local criminals to have to be “R.O.R.’d” before the ink is dry on the arrest reports.  The D.O.C. operations, including “work release,” will continue to operate at full capacity with full staff.  There is a balance to be stricken when determining the ratio of D.O.C. inmates to pre-trial detainees to assure adequate revenue to continue all of these operations.  I will also strive to make sure that the D.O.C. inmates we house are local so that when they take advantage of the work, substance abuse treatment, education and training programs to be made available they will have a head start on re-integrating into our community as productive citizens.  All agree that, if a man can get an honest job and earn a decent living when he is released from prison, the likelihood that he will return to jail decreases exponentially.  I, like most of our citizens, am tired of our local resources going to rehabilitate the criminals of the rest of the State while ignoring our own.  I pledge to make sure that while none of these programs suffer, there will be adequate jail space to keep our Parish safe from these criminals.  

Moreover, I fully intend to expand the D.O.C. programs where possible.  For instance, the “tent city” I proposed will be a D.O. C. Boot Camp like program.  This facility will be a voluntary program similar to the one at Hunt Correctional, where inmates participate in intensive incarceration for an abbreviated period of time in order to receive much needed treatment, education and vocational skills.  I have heard rumors that we will punish employees by making them work the “tent city” detail.  I assure you this is not the case.  Working conditions and amenities for staff at this facility will be consistent with those at all other Rapides Parish correctional facilities.

Finally, again to dispel rampant rumors and untruths, the S.R.O. program will stay, is likely to be expanded (more than one deputy in certain schools) and will be improved upon.  As I have explained in the past, this program has great potential and I intend to move it towards that potential.

Thank you for your time and consideration.  If any of you would like to know more about my plans and ideas for this office, or just would like to talk to me personally, please feel free to call anytime.  My door will always be open to you.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Charles F. “Chuck” Wagner Jr.