About Art Lebreton

As the Chief of Police of the Youngsville Police Department, I want to bring “Experienced Leadership” to the agency and citizens of the City of Youngsville.

With my extensive background in law enforcement, including Patrol Operations, Criminal Investigations, Critical Incident Management, and executive management and administration of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, I bring a wealth of experience and a higher level of leadership to the Youngsville Police Department. My utmost priority is to ensure the safety and security of our community by providing experienced leadership and fostering a strong partnership between law enforcement and the residents of Youngsville.

Recruitment and retention pose significant challenges in today’s law enforcement landscape. To address these issues, I am committed to implementing strategies that include competitive salaries, meaningful training opportunities, technological advancements, and evidence-based data analysis. By evaluating the effectiveness of our initiatives, we can continuously improve and maintain a safe environment for all.

As your Chief of Police, I firmly believe in leading by example and working closely with the dedicated officers of the Youngsville Police Department. I will provide firm but fair supervision, emphasizing the importance of policies and procedures that safeguard our officers, the citizens we serve, and the integrity of our investigations. Together, we can achieve success when law enforcement and the community collaborate as a united front.

Justice is at the core of our mission, and we will strive to do things right. By earning the admiration of other agencies, we can overcome recruitment and retention challenges and become a beacon of excellence in law enforcement.

In May 1983, I joined the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Reserve Unit under the administration of Sheriff Carlo P. Listi. In a relatively brief time span, I found law enforcement service to be my calling. I thoroughly enjoyed my service to the community as a volunteer, however, felt that law enforcement had become my calling as a career.

In October 1984, I became a full-time commissioned deputy sheriff under Sheriff Donald J. Breaux. In May 1985, I graduated from the 35th Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy with the distinction of Class President. My chosen career had become a passion to which I dedicated myself. Many opportunities and challenges were ahead for me, and I took advantage of each to advance.

In August 1988, at 24, I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned the duties of patrol field supervisor. This was a challenging time for me, as many of my peers were older and more experienced. I simply focused on professionalism and further education to earn the respect of my subordinates.

In October 1990, I was accepted into the 55th session of the LSU Law Enforcement Institute that was designed primarily for present or prospective administrative executives of law enforcement agencies. At the time, the institute was one of only three in the nation. I graduated the program with academic honors by achieving the highest scholastic average score of my class.

In October 1992, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned the duties of Watch Commander of a patrol shift. As commanding officer, I assumed both administrative, as well as supervisory duties. As I adapted to these duties, I began to look for new challenges in law enforcement. I applied for and was accepted into the crisis negotiations unit of the Special Reaction Team (SWAT). My education in both basic and advanced negotiations was achieved at Rollins College in Winterpark, Florida.

After over 13 years of service to the Patrol Division, opportunity knocked. I became intrigued by the work of the Criminal Investigations Division. Detectives were viewed as the “cream of the crop” because they were very well trained in their chosen area of expertise. As a member of the Patrol Division, I was required to be at least vaguely knowledgeable in a wide array of law enforcement duties, but criminal investigations became my first opportunity to focus and specialize in a specific field. This was my most difficult career choice since I would be required to relinquish my rank of Lieutenant to accept a position in investigations.

I was accepted into the Crimes Against Persons Unit, an investigative unit I viewed as the elite. A unit responsible for the investigation of rape, robbery and homicide. I became eligible for investigative schools normally not open to patrol deputies. In this assignment I learned how much I didn’t know about law enforcement. I gained a newfound respect for the victims, their families and the tragedy of the crimes I investigated. After thirteen years, I saw firsthand the criminal justice system at work from start to finish. The experience I gained from the prosecutors, defense attorneys, court proceedings and forensic field were invaluable. During my tour in investigations, I was awarded Deputy of the Year two consecutive years along with numerous achievement and recognition awards from the civic sector. My investigative work was highlighted in an episode of Forensic Files-No Safe Place and on Discovery Channels Investigation ID -Sins and Secrets.

In July 2000, I was interviewed and selected for the position of Patrol Commander, with a rank of Captain, by the administration of incoming Sheriff Michael W. Neustrom. I became responsible for the administration, supervision and leadership of over 120 employees. While Patrol Commander, we achieved National Accreditation from CALEA (Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies).

Three years later, on June 1, 2003, I was promoted and assumed the responsibilities of the Enforcement Commander at the rank of Major and title Chief Deputy of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. The Enforcement Division includes Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Forensics, Metro Narcotics, Community Services and Critical Incident Management. This assignment enabled me to bring to bear the variety of experience from past assignments. In this capacity I supervised all operations/administration and leadership of the enforcement arm of the agency to include budgets, performance evaluations, promotions, disciplinary action, accreditation compliance, as well as critical incident management including man-made and natural disasters.

I remained the Enforcement Commander/Chief Deputy until July 2016 when Sheriff Mark T. Garber assumed the Office of Sheriff. I continued my career under Sheriff Garber at the rank of Major and Enforcement Commander until retirement in November 2018.

Allow me to share a little about myself. I am happily married to Misty Adams LeBreton, and together we have four children. During our off time, we enjoy the serenity of our camp in Pecan Island where we hunt and fish in Sportsman’s Paradise. Together we love to cook, entertain family and friends, and watch sports.

I am excited to embark on this journey with you, the residents of Youngsville. Your safety and well-being are my top priorities, and I am committed to serving you with dedication, integrity and transparency. Together, let us build a stronger, safer community.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to listen and work alongside you.

I humbly ask for your support and your vote for Chief of Police of the Youngsville Police Department.

Sincerely,

Art LeBreton
PO Box 259
Youngsville, LA