By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – When the new year begins there will be a new but recognizable face in St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom’s administration.

Mike Tregre, a 23-year veteran of the St. John Sheriff’s Office, will be the parish’s new director of Public Safety and Civil Defense when current director Paul Oncale retires in February.

“I was completely blindsided,” Tregre said of when Robottom informed him. “I appreciate the consideration, and I look forward to the new challenge.”

Robottom said she interviewed several candidates from inside and outside the parish before settling on Tregre. She said she and the rest of her administration believed it was important to appoint a person who knows the area well.

“When dealing with public safety we thought it would be important to have a leader people are comfortable with,” Robottom said. “Everyone in the community knows Mike. He’s well liked, and he has a wealth of experience.”

Tregre, 44, is a graduate of East St. John High School, Southeastern Louisiana University and the FBI Academy.

He joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1988 as a 21-year-old new recruit.

In his 20 years in the Sheriff’s Office, Tregre climbed the ranks from deputy, to detective to director of public information.

He then moved into the District Attorney’s Office, where he has worked the last three years as a special investigator from the Sheriff’s Office for District Attorney Tom Daley.

Robottom said Tregre will begin work on an interim basis Jan. 10 under Oncale’s tutelage.

Robottom said she wanted to give Tregre at least four weeks to train and learn the ropes and responsibilities involved with the department.

“He’s eager to learn, and we are excited to have him,” Robottom said. “Everyone in the office supports the administration.”

Robottom said when Oncale bows out on Feb. 4, she will have to get council approval before Tregre can take over permanently.

“Oncale has served the parish well, and we are certainly grateful he guided us through another hurricane season,” Robottom said. “Although he is retiring, he is not going anywhere. He will still be around in the area for guidance when needed.”