Stoney Broussard, Gueydan’s new Police Chief

Stoney Broussard, a former Sheriff’s Deputy with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff Department accepted the appointment by Mayor Bob Hensgens and the City Council of Gueydan to serve as the interim Chief of Police for the city of Gueydan, effective January first of this year.

The appointment by the city government was necessary due to the elected Chief of Police, Blake Hebert, being activated by the Army National Guard 256, recently. Blake Hebert resigned his elected position due to the activation and deployment.

Stoney Broussard, the son of Reggie and Susan Broussard and a life long resident of Gueydan began his law enforcement career with the Sheriff’s Department as a corrections officer in 2005 where he was later promoted to patrol and received certification under the Louisiana Post Standards of Training and graduated a certified police academy. He then served as a patrol deputy in 2009. Broussard was also part of the Sheriff’s Special Reaction Team, acquiring hundreds of hours of specialized training to handle volatile and hostile calls for service.

“I would like to thank the former Chief of Police Blake Hebert for his service to the city of Gueydan and for his call to duty and service to the military, along with all the other brave men and women protecting our freedom today,” said Broussard.

“My time working for the Sheriff has given me invaluable training and experience in preparing me to serve as Gueydan’s interim Chief of Police. Although I loved my job working for the Sheriff, this was an unexpected opportunity to serve at a higher level, but more importantly, to serve at home, where I was born and raised -- right here in the city of Gueydan,” says Chief Broussard.

When asked what the new Chief’s hobbies are, “I really do not have any real hobbies other than being an outdoorsman. Outside of my chosen occupation in law enforcement, I guess you can say that a farmer at heart because I raise cattle in my spare time.

I have always enjoyed the outdoors and working on the farm and it seems fitting that maybe no other reason that fate, my love for serving the public has brought me back to what I call HOME, this great little city of Gueydan.

Is there a message that the new Chief would like to give the residents of

Gueydan? “My message to the residents is simple: I want to re-assure the people of Gueydan that I have accepted this appointment with honor, commitment and determination.

“My promise to all those who live here is that I will be available and maintain an open door policy.

“I have hit the ground running and my first order of business is to make a total assessment of the current operations, making note of needed changed and improvements to bring the Gueydan Police Department to order.

“I intend to make use of every resource available to me to make sure that you get then absolute best service possible from your police department. A small department with a limited budget cannot be turned into a model one overnight. However, with the help of our local elected officials, I am confident that you will see noted improvements to the way your police department serves you.

“I thank the Mayor and the Council for the confidence that the have shown to me in this appointment and it is my intention to serve as your Chief of Police with the same hard work I was trained to do and gave the office of the Sheriff -- to serve with honesty and integrity, but more important, with pride and professionalism,” concluded the Chief.