Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency over a deputy shortage across the state. Landry promised a tough-on-crime agenda and the newly elected Republican is looking to make good on that promise.
The declaration of a state emergency allows sheriffs to immediately hire more deputies. It also increases payrolls to highlight the deputy shortage.
Landry suspended a law that bans “political payroll padding.” For decades, the law prevented sheriffs from hiring large numbers of people ahead of an election to use them for campaign activities.
The law also prohibits sheriffs from hiring over 5% of their workforce, increasing payroll by more than 15%, or selling more than 10% of their assets for six months after a new gubernatorial term begins.
The executive order suspends the law until next month.
The temporary suspension of the law will help smaller, rural sheriff…
