Newly Appointed Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Makes Key Staff Appointments on First Day in Office

Henry Whitehorn Makes Staff Appointments as New Sheriff of Caddo Parish

Shreveport, LA: On his first full day in office, the newly appointed sheriff of Caddo Parish, Henry Whitehorn, announced his key administrative team. After a contentious and tightly contested election, Whitehorn has set out to assemble a leadership team to help him run the Parish’s Sheriff’s Office efficiently.

Five Key Appointments Announced

During his first meeting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Sheriff Whitehorn unveiled the appointments of five new members of his executive staff. This step confirms that he is ready to hit the ground running as he embarks upon his journey as the first-ever Black sheriff of Caddo Parish.

The new appointees to the sheriff staff include Rickey Farris, who will serve as the chief deputy. Jacqueline Winston has been named as the assistant chief deputy of investigations, while James L. Matthews III will take the helm as the assistant chief deputy of district court. Disha K. Darby will serve as the assistant chief deputy of detention and Peter Williams as the director of human resources.

A Long Journey to Office

The road to the sheriff’s office has not been smooth sailing for Whitehorn. He faced a fierce legal battle after a judge discarded the results of the November 2023 runoff due to an excessive number of voting irregularities. In the contentious runoff, Whitehorn had narrowly beaten his opponent, Shreveport attorney John Nickelson, by just one vote.

An unexpected March special election was then held where Whitehorn emerged as the victor, defeating Nickelson with a more decisive win, securing 53% of the votes. His triumphant win marked a milestone as he became the first Black sheriff to be elected in the history of Caddo Parish.

Looking Forward

With his first key staffers now in place, Sheriff Whitehorn looks ready to begin his tenure, tackling the challenges of his new role head-on. The multiple appointments reflect his commitment to diversifying the Parish’s Sheriff’s office and his eagerness to establish a solid foundation from the get-go.

Information regarding further positions within the Sheriff’s office will be forthcoming as Whitehorn gets acclimated to his role as the new sheriff of Caddo Parish. Under his administration, it is expected that a new chapter will be written in the history of the Parish’s law enforcement agency.

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