Major Accomplishments

Improved Image

When Craig Webre was elected Sheriff of Lafourche Parish in 1992, his first order of business was to convince a wary public that he would provide leadership, integrity and vision to the Office of Sheriff.  Craig Webre was able to modernize the office, offer professional law enforcement and create a much needed positive image for the employees of the Sheriff's Office. Through higher standards of management, personal commitment and dedication, he was eventually able to convince the voters to pass a tax for higher salaries and better equipment for deputies.

National Accreditation

In 2000, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office became one of only two sheriff’s offices in Louisiana to achieve National Accreditation. In 2006, National Accreditation has been achieved by four Louisiana Sheriff’s Offices. Sheriff Webre felt that meeting stringent national standards would boost citizen and staff confidence in the Sheriff’s Office. Other benefits included strengthening crime prevention and control capabilities; new formal management policy and procedures; fair nondiscriminatory personnel practices; improved service delivery and interagency cooperation.

Meals on Wheels

When Sheriff Webre learned of the high cost of meals being delivered to senior citizens in the parish,  he offered to have the meals prepared in the parish jail. Not only did he reduce the cost, but he also increased the amount and nutritional value of the meals. He now provides approximately 8,000 hot meals monthly to seniors throughout the parish. The program’s success led to Sheriff Webre providing low cost meals to students in the Head Start programs. Each year more than 43,000 meals are prepared at the Detention and Work Release Centers.

Police Social Services

Sheriff Webre recognized the need for a professional victims' assistance program in Lafourche Parish and created Police Social Services; a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive victim assistance program that serves approximately 1400 crime victims per year.  In addition to general victim services, Craig Webre created specialty programs such as Crime Victims' With Disabilities, Elderly Services and the Lafourche Parish Alliance Against Domestic Violence.  He is recognized as an innovator in victim assistance and a strong advocate of replacing old attitudes by a better understanding of the complex nature of domestic violence and the critical need to prioritize safety for those who are victimized.  He recently served on the Governor's Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Training Task Force and was named Sheriff of the Year by the Louisiana Victims and Citizens Against Crime.  In 2005, Sheriff Webre accepted the very first NSA National Crime Victims' Services Award.

Highway Safety

Under Sheriff Webre's direction, a Comprehensive Traffic Safety Program was developed, a first for Lafourche Parish.  Prior sheriffs neglected such programs in fear that voter approval would diminish.  As a result, Lafourche Parish was ranked first in the state for the number of alcohol and non-seatbelt compliance related crash injuries and fatalities.  Lafourche Parish has now achieved the highest compliance percentage of seatbelt use in the state of Louisiana with a compliance rating of over 80 percent.  This is well above the national average, and the alcohol and seatbelt related crash injuries and fatalities ranked lower in the state than in any previous year.  Sheriff Webre's traffic safety program has received state and national recognition as being one of the most comprehensive and innovative programs in effect as indicated by one of his staff members receiving NSA’s  J. Stannard Baker Award For Highway Safety in 2003.

Post Katrina Activity

Frustrated by red tape and bureaucratic hang-ups, Craig Webre worked to provide access for outside agencies to come to the aid of neighboring parishes in Louisiana. He also coordinated distribution of personnel, material and supplies to storm damaged parishes.