Webster Parish Sheriff's Office, 410 Main Street, Minden, LA (2026)

06/04/2026

Photo: Sheriff Jason Parker with Salute the Badge honorees Sgt. Hannah Baker and Sgt. Shawn Jenkins.

A pair of Webster Parish deputies were honored during the annual “Salute the Badge” ceremonies for outstanding performance to the people they serve.

Sgt. Hannah Baker and Sgt. Shawn Jenkins received special recognition Tuesday during the awards banquet, sponsored by Shreveport television station KTAL and held at Live! Casino in Bossier City.

“We are very proud of Sgt. Baker and Sgt. Jenkins for receiving the recognition they deserve,” said Sheriff Jason Parker. “They represent our office in the best tradition, and their service and dedication to our citizens deserves to be rewarded.”

Baker represents the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division; Jenkins is a detective in the Criminal Investigation Division.

Webster’s deputies were among a number of first responders from across the Ark-La-Tex region honored in celebration of their leadership and dedication to service.

“Salute the Badge” tributes began in 2015 following the death of Shreveport Police Officer Thomas LaValley.

05/28/2026

Three graduating seniors from Webster Parish public schools have been awarded scholarships through the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association scholarship program.

Hudson Smith, a 2026 graduate of North Webster High School, won the top scholarship, presented by Sheriff Jason Parker, for his achievements during his high school career.

Smith, a 4.0 student at North Webster, plans to attend Louisiana Tech University where he will major in business. His future plans are to return to Springhill and work in his family’s business.

Other students receiving scholarships were Teal Austin, a Lakeside High School graduate, and Garrett Simpson, who graduated from Minden High School.

Austin graduated from Lakeside with a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend Northwestern State University (Shreveport campus) to major in radiologic sciences. After graduation, Austin plans to work in magnetic resonance imaging.

Simpson, who graduated with a 3.95 GPA, will attend Northwest Technical Community College to study instrumentation and electrician technician.

Each year, Parker awards the Sheriff’s Association scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors from a parish school. Recipients receive the scholarships following a review by the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association.

Photo: Hudson Smith receives notice of his scholarship from Sheriff Jason Parker.

05/25/2026

Sheriff Jason Parker and all the men and women at the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office hopes everyone has a wonderful and safe Memorial Day holiday.
Most importantly, we want everyone to remember why we consider this such a special day. Today, we honor those men and women who gave their lives to protect this country and the freedoms we enjoy.
Their sacrifice stands as a symbol of love for their country, their families and those they never knew. Let us keep them eternally in our prayers.

05/14/2026

Tribute was paid Thursday to more than 50 law enforcement officers from multiple agencies across northwest Louisiana who gave their lives in the line of duty.
“These are the people who run to the fear, not away from it,” said Shreveport Chief of Police Wayne Smith during remarks to a large gathering of officers, family and friends.
“They are the ones who stand between danger and the community. They paid the price. Their tour of duty may be over, but they will never be forgotten.”
Included among those honored were Webster Parish deputies William “Billy” Collins, Jr. and Trey Copeland. Both men died in the line of duty in 2021.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker made a special presentation of a single red rose to family members of Collins, who attended the Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
Collins was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 9, 2021, while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Greentree St. in Doyline.

Copeland suffered a fatal medical event following a high-speed vehicle pursuit along U.S. 371 in Webster Parish in August, 2021.
Thursday’s event honoring the 52 fallen officers was held at the Law Enforcement/Firefighters Memorial on the Shreveport riverfront off Clyde Fant Parkway.

Agencies honoring fallen officers during the ceremony included Bossier City PD, Bossier Parish SO, Caddo Parish SO, DeSoto Parish SO, Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana State Police—Troop G, Natchitoches Parish SO, Vivian PD, Webster Parish SO and Shreveport PD.

Photo: Sheriff Jason Parker and Chief Deputy Hank Haynes with members of the Billy Collins family at ceremonies honoring fallen officers.

05/04/2026

Webster Parish detectives closed a lengthy drug investigation Friday with the arrest of a Doyline couple on multiple charges including possession with intent to distribute.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said 57-year-old Wendy Lynette Luciani is charged on 11 counts, nine of which involve illegal drugs. Her companion, 53-year-old Willie Joe Hickingbottom, is looking at both drug and firearm charges.
Major Bobby Igo III said the pair were pulled over for a traffic violation on Parish Line Rd. by Sgt. Lance Chanler, and gave consent for a vehicle search. Sgt. Josh McCormick and Det. Ben Allen reportedly arrived to assist.
During the search, deputies reportedly found a 58 grams of suspected methamphetamines hidden behind the steering wheel in the dashboard. Two small bags of suspected ma*****na reportedly were also found in Luciani’s purse.
A search warrant had previously been approved for the couple’s residence in the 2500 block of Hwy. 163, and deputies executed a search.
Inside, the team found 23.56 grams of suspected methaphetamines, 36.73 grams of suspected ma*****na, 21.5 Oxycodone pills, 4.5 Hydrocodone pills, 16 Methadone pills, 11 Colazapam pills, three Alprazocam pills, three Xanax pills, eight Ecstasy pills and one Diazepam pill.
Also, deputies found a .22 caliber handgun sitting atop a dresser in the master bedroom.
Luciani reportedly admitted ownership of all the narcotics inside the residence.
Charges against Luciani include possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines) with intent to distribute, three counts possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines), and possession of CDS Sch. I (ma*****na).
Also, possession of CDS Sch. I (Ecstasy), three counts possession of CDS Sch. IV, possession of a firearm in presence of CDS and as a fugitive from Okaloosa County (FL) Sheriff’s Office. Her bond has been set at $100,001.
Hickingbottom is in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines) with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in presence of CDS. His bond is set at $85,000.

05/01/2026

Deputy Garett Crews will be hitting the road in a Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol unit after successfully completing 16 weeks of training at the Bossier Parish police academy.
Crews, who began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections deputy in March, 2025, graduated from the Academy Friday.
“He excelled as a corrections deputy and his instructors at the academy spoke highly of him,” Sheriff Jason Parker said. “We think he’ll serve the people of Webster Parish very well.”
Photos: Sheriff Jason Parker and Garett Crews during his graduation.
(From left) Sheriff Jason Parker, Deputy Garett Crews, Chief Deputy Hank Haynes.

05/01/2026

Providing continued support for employees who serve in the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard has earned Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker and Chief Deputy Hank Haynes special recognition.
Parker and Haynes were honored Friday by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, designating the Sheriff’s Office as a Patriotic Employer.
“This is in recognition of the encouragement you give the men and women under your command who serve in the Reserve and Guard,” said M/Sgt. Jonathon Knight who presented the awards.
“We have several deputies in the Guard and Reserve and we’re proud to assist them any way we can,” Parker said. “We accept this honor on behalf of those who serve not only the people of Webster Parish but their country as well.”
Parker said deputies are always prepared to be asked to go the extra mile as members of the units.
“They can be called to duty at any time in case of emergency, whether it’s local, in another state or anywhere in the world,” Parker said. “They deserve our support and most of all, our respect.”
Photo: (From left) Sheriff Jason Parker, M/Sgt. Jonathon Knight, Chief Deputy Hank Haynes.

04/15/2026

It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office is proud to recognize a special group of individuals who could be the first voice a person in danger may hear.
“They are often the first point of contact in an emergency, the calm voice guiding someone through what may be the worst moment of their life,” Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said.
Eight full-time dispatchers make up the Sheriff’s Office team, led by Supervisor Lacy Hay. The staff includes Karri Vaughan, Kendall Rico, Katelyn Langford, Hannah Cross, Morgan Norwood, Alexis Rigdon, Karah Taylor and Jaclyn Holloway.
“Our dispatchers work behind the scenes, but they are essential to everything we do.”
Parker said dispatchers are responsible for gathering critical information, sending help where it’s needed and supporting the deputies in the field. During the critical periods, the dispatchers perform their duties with patience, professionalism and care, he said.
“We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for the dedication they show to our community and deputies every single day,” Parker said.
Photo: Dispatchers (from left) are Alexis Rigdon, Jaclyn Holloway, Hannah Cross, Katelyn Langford, Karri Vaughan, Kendall Rico and Morgan Norwood.
Individual photo is Karah Taylor.

04/08/2026

The Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) hosted an elite Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Master Instructor School in Lafayette. The program was led and overseen by Senior Master Instructor Sergeant Jeremy Haas of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This high-level academy focuses on developing the next generation of instructor trainers and certifiers for the state. The current class includes candidates from various agencies across Louisiana and represents a mix of all three POST instructor levels: Level 1 (Basic), Level 3 (Corrections), and Fi****ms.

Central to the intensive trainer development was an extensive focus on the Adult Learning Model (ALM). Unlike traditional classroom instruction, ALM focuses on self-directed, experiential, and practical application methods specifically designed for the professional law enforcement environment. Under the guidance of Sgt. Haas and a select group of Master Instructors, candidates were immersed in advanced ALM techniques to ensure they can effectively train and certify future instructors across the state.

Following this phase, these candidates will transition into several months of technical work, utilizing their ALM training to lead POST lesson plan curriculum updates and revisions for their specific levels of instruction.

Since 2015, Sergeant Haas has held the unique distinction of being the first and only Master Instructor in the state of Louisiana to be certified in all three POST instructor modalities. His oversight of this week’s program marks over a decade of setting the benchmark for professional instruction.

History is now poised to repeat itself within the same agency. Captain Joel Thomas, also of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, is currently on track to become only the second person in the state to obtain Master status in all three levels. Upon his completion, Webster Parish will achieve the nearly unbelievable feat of being the only agency in Louisiana—and the first in history—to house both individuals who have reached this "trifecta" of mastery.

Sheriff Jason Parker said, “It is almost unheard of for a single agency to produce this level of expertise. Sgt. Haas has held the state's only 'trifecta' of Master certifications since 2015, and to now have Captain Thomas on the verge of becoming the second person ever to reach that level is a monumental achievement for Webster Parish. This ensures our deputies receive training that is quite literally the gold standard in Louisiana.”

Sgt. Jeremy Haas, Senior Master Instructor:

“My role this week as Senior Master Instructor is to ensure we are producing the highest caliber of instructor trainers and certifiers possible. A major component of that is mastering the Adult Learning Model (ALM), which moves beyond simple lecturing to true professional development. These candidates now face months of rigorous work updating the state’s curriculum and lesson plans using these models. I’ve held these three certifications for over a decade, and I am proud to oversee the process of bringing more leaders to this level—especially a colleague like Captain Thomas.”

Captain Joel Thomas, Master Instructor Candidate:

“Becoming a POST Master Instructor is a goal that I have had of over a decade. Achieving the Master Instructor trifecta is about more than a title; it is about the long-term commitment to evolving our curriculum through advanced methods like ALM. Having two people from one office reach this level is a testament to the culture of excellence Sheriff Parker has fostered at the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.”

03/31/2026

After more than three decades of serving the people of Webster Parish, Major Robert “Robbie” Hayden, Jr. is signaling 10-10 (out of service) for the last time.

“We tried real hard to talk him out of retiring, but he said after much soul searching and prayer, he was convinced it was time,” Sheriff Jason Parker said Friday during Hayden’s official retirement party.

“He leaves a legacy of service and loyalty to the Sheriff’s Office and the people of Webster Parish that is an example to all of us,” Parker said.

Hayden, commander of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, donned his deputy’s uniform for the first time in 1994. During his 31 years, he served in many departments, including as a patrol deputy and detective.

Hayden also serves as Chief of Police in his hometown of Doyline, and that’s a position he will continue to hold.

“I made this decision after many prayers, many tears. I consider all of you my family,” Hayden told the group gathered to celebrate his career. “There’s never been a day I did not want to put on the badge and come to work with you. I will miss you.”

Hayden shared many memories with his fellow officers, saying God has blessed him in many ways in life and in his career. And, he pointed out, there’s one area where he feels particularly blessed.

“During my 31 years, I never got hurt and I never had to hurt anybody,” he said. “I had the prayers of my family with me daily, and when Mother prays, Heaven listens.”

Webster Parish Sheriff's Office

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