With wife, Suzanne, by his side Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown took his official Oath of Office on Friday, June 21st, marking the beginning of an unprecedented sixth term. The one time youngest Sheriff in the state of Louisiana is now the longest tenured in the history of Jackson Parish. 

First elected in 2004 at the age of 38, Brown’s recent swearing into office by Jackson Parish Clerk of Court, Laura Culpepper, puts him alone atop the list of longevity among Sheriff’s in Jackson Parish breaking the tie with Neil Thomas (1928-1948) and Van Beasley (1980 – 2000).

Next year, Brown will be entering his 40th year in law enforcement, beginning his illustrious career in 1985 as a Deputy working the radio room before being promoted to Patrol and then Investigator. In 2000, Brown became Chief Deputy, a position he held for four years before winning the vote to become Sheriff in 2004. 

Winning unopposed in every election before the most recent one held this past November, Brown has turned the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office from a small, understaffed department into the second largest employer in the parish. During his tenure he has also fortified the department with the some of the most advanced law enforcement technology and modern prisoner housing available. 

“When I first started we had the capacity to house only 38 inmates at our jail, which was at the top floor of the Courthouse,” reflected Brown in an exclusive interview with the Jackson Parish Journal. “We were forced to ship out most of our inmates to other facilities across the state. This put undue time and cost burdens on our department.”

“One of my first goals was to develop a way to keep our inmates in the parish so that we could not only cut our costs but also generate money for the department,” continued Brown. 

The result was the building of the Jackson Parish Correctional Center, located on Industrial Drive in Jonesboro in 2007 that could hold up to 1,000 inmates. Now not only could Jackson Parish house all of their inmates but also those from other parts of the state, creating a large tax revenue for the parish. It also provided for tremendous employment opportunities for a large number of residents of Jackson Parish. 

In 2009, Brown was the recipient of the distinguished Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award (shown at right) which represents the highest
recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

In a progressive move that brought even more revenue to Jackson Parish and increased employment opportunities, in 2019 the Jackson Parish Correctional Center became an official ICE immigration detainment facility, housing upward to 1200 illegal immigrants. It also forced the Louisiana Department of Corrections inmates that had been housed at the prison to be moved elsewhere. 

This led to the building of a new 7 million dollar facility in 2023, housing upward to 400 inmates that allowed the JPSO to once again house their own inmates and those from other parishes. Included was the incorporation of a juvenile division, one of the few in the state. 

“This was all part of the plan, once we sold the correctional center to LaSalle Management to house ICE immigrants,” said Brown. “It has always been a goal of mine to have juvenile housing in the parish. For years there has been a serious shortage of juvenile housing facilities in the state and I felt it would be good for the parish and for the state. I hope that one day soon we will have a facility for women as well.” 

When Sheriff Brown finalized the swearing in procedure by uttering the words “I DO”. it was the seventh time in his life that those words made an act official. Six have been for starting a new term as Jackson Parish Sheriff. The first and the one he considers the most important, was when he married Suzanne (Walsworth), consecrating a love affair that has continued for more than 40 years now.  

“They say that behind every good man there is a great woman,” laughed Brown, who quickly took on a solemn tone and explained why asking his high school sweetheart to marry him was the best decision he ever made. “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today were it not for her. I say this in all seriousness when I tell you she saved my life and helped save my soul. She is the one who led me to the Lord and I have always been able to lean on her for guidance.”

When asked to reflect on his career, Brown was quick to point out that he was proud of many strides his department has made, including the formation of civic divisions that help all aspects of the community and the move to the new JPSO headquarters.  

“We have a fully staffed Senior Patrol Division whose only objective is to help the seniors citizens of our parish. We also have a great team of SRO officers that work in our school system,” noted Brown. “Of course I am especially pleased with our ability to move from the cramped area we used in the Courthouse to this state of the art facility that we now are in.”

That led Brown to also give credence to the large team of men and women who work in the department. 

“I have been blessed to have some really great people with me,” said Brown. “Our department would not be where it is today without all the folks who have been with me over the past 20 years. Nothing that has been accomplished could have been done without their input and support.”

“I also am very appreciative of the people of Jackson Parish who have trusted me to lead this department. I hope they know that every move that has been made has been done with their best interest at heart.” 

It is safe to say that residents of Jackson Parish know that. Six terms in office validates it.