[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF 
                            DONALD J. BREAUX

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2000

  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding law 
enforcement career of Lafayette Parish Sheriff Donald J. Breaux. 
Sheriff Breaux's over 30 years of distinguished service in Louisiana 
law enforcement are coming to a close on July 1, 2000, and I would like 
to take this opportunity to honor his accomplished service.
  Sheriff Breaux began his career in law enforcement in 1958 at the age 
of twenty-one with the Lafayette Police Department. In 1964, he left 
local law enforcement to join the Louisiana State Police where he 
remained until his retirement in 1980. Shortly thereafter, he was 
appointed Lafayette City Marshall where he served until 1984 when he 
was elected Sheriff of Lafayette Parish. Today, fifteen years later, he 
is retiring from the law enforcement arena after what he calls a 
``blessed'' life and career.
  His years of distinguished service also includes leadership in 
numerous law enforcement organizations. He has served as: past 
president of the Louisiana State Troopers Association; past president 
of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association; Chairman of the National 
Sheriff's Drug Enforcement Committee; Director of the Louisiana 
Sheriff's Association Strike Force; member of the American Correctional 
Association Committee on Accreditation; member of Accreditation for 
Corrections; and member of the American Correctional Association's 
Committee on Correctional Standards.
  In his four terms as Lafayette Parish Sheriff, Sheriff Breaux 
spearheaded construction and operation of the Lafayette Parish 
Sheriff's Training Academy, the opening of the Lafayette Parish 
Correctional Center, the computerization of the Sheriff's Department 
and consolidation of many city-parish services for Lafayette Parish 
residents. He has placed an emphasis on combating drugs in Lafayette 
Parish through the development of a comprehensive community drug 
education program. This program, combined with a strong enforcement 
initiative, equates to roughly 100 drug arrests each month by Metro 
Narcotics. Sheriff Breaux was also instrumental in bringing the Drug 
Awareness Resistance Education Program (D.A.R.E.) to school children in 
Lafayette Parish. Since, DARE has provided over 6,000 Lafayette Parish 
school children with the knowledge they need to resist and report drugs 
in their communities.
  Sheriff Breaux has made a lasting impact, not only in Lafayette 
Parish but in Louisiana as a whole. He will long be remembered as a 
leader who constantly strove to meet the changing and expanding needs 
of his diverse community. His record of public service exemplifies the 
heights to which he has brought the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's 
Department, and is one that will be honored for years to come.
  Congratulations Sheriff Breaux on your retirement.

                          ____________________