By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter 

LUTCHER — Earl A. White, a former assistant to Lutcher mayor Troas Poche for three years, was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco as Lutcher’s new chief of police.

This ends the small town’s near seven-month stint without a police department after former Lutcher Police Chief Corey Pittman was arrested last August soliciting crack cocaine to undercover federal agents.

White, who spent many years as the former St. James Parish Government executive director of Human Resources, has no prior experience in law enforcement but feels he is still capable of handling the job.

&#8220The minimum requirement is to be a citizen of the town and be 21 years old and I think I fit that requirement,” White said. &#8220I believe the chief of police, just like the sheriff’s in the various parishes, are administrators.”

Before closing in August, the Lutcher police employed three deputies who were laid off because none were capable of running the department, according to Poche. Since that time, St. James parish sheriff’s deputies have patrolled the Lutcher area and handled its law enforcement duties, a process Poche and White would like to see continue on a permanent contracted basis.

&#8220Since I’ve been mayor I’ve been looking at contracting out our sheriff’s department,” Poche said. He and St. James Sheriff Willy Martin have

been in negotiations to have at least one person per shift patrol Lutcher and handle crime and complaints on a permanent basis, doing away with Lutcher’s police force altogether.

&#8220It’s hard to hire deputies when you’re competing against the sheriff’s department and your competing against a neighboring town that pays more,” Poche said. &#8220A police department is a big liability for a town to have. You need it but if you can contract and get the same service from the sheriff’s department, it’s worth it.

Lutcher residents have complained about the lack of visibility of a police presence since Pittman was arrested and removed, which is something White has addressed immediately. White now personally handles all calls that come through the Lutcher Police Department and acts as a liaison with the St. James Sheriff’s Office to ensure the necessary police presence is available upon request.

White has said this position is only temporary for him and he will not run for the post in the election on Sept. 30, part of the reason he does not want to build a staff immediately and would rather outsource the police force.

&#8220Why go and build another staff and then have the new chief, because I’m definitely not gonna run, come in to an already existing staff,” White said about the staff, something he feels the next more permanent chief should have a hand in building.

A special election would be held prior to the Sept. 30 sheriff election if an agreement can be reached between Lutcher and the St. James Sheriff’s Office.

Residents would be able to vote on outsourcing their police force or continuing to rebuild the existing one.

Whatever is decided on, Poche and White are dedicated to helping increase Lutcher’s police presence.

&#8220We’re just fortunate we had a good sheriff that was willing to work for us to keep this police department going,” White said &#8220But we’re looking for somebody who can be concentrated in the Lutcher area.”