Ackal becomes sheriff, promises major changes

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jul 2, 2008 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW IBERIA — A new day, a new sheriff, a new hope was the message of Louis Ackal when he was sworn-in as Iberia Parish sheriff on Tuesday.

Ackal was greeted by hundreds of supporters, some politicians and well-known family members outside the Courthouse, most of whom withstood smothering heat to cheer him on.

His first cousin, U.S. District Judge Richard Haik, officially swore him in Tuesday after he took a moment to talk about how proud he was of his cousin.

“Louis has always, always wanted to come back home and be the sheriff of Iberia Parish,” Haik said.

To prove how much he loved his cousin and how sure he was that Ackal would do a great job for the parish, Haik said he would “shout it at the top of this courthouse.”

Ackal has repeatedly said he did not take the job and the headaches that come with it because he had too, but rather that he couldn’t believe what he was seeing happen to the parish — its rising crime rate coupled with the public’s falling opinion of the department itself.

He returned from a life in the private sector in Colorado to run for the position.

“I have made a pledge, not a promise, to do something about this parish’s problems,” he told those gathered. Ackal’s official start had come roughly 12 hours before at midnight when the official switch took place.

Out went former Sheriff Sid Hebert, who had run the parish for 12 years, and in stepped Louis Ackal, a man with about 40 years of law enforcement experience.

Ackal began swearing in deputies at midnight and then took a trip to the Parish Jail to visit and inspect the property. He returned to work later that morning, greeted by a throng of additional deputies waiting to be sworn in.

Before he asked them to raise their right hands, Ackal spoke of his pledge to the parish and to those working for him. He spoke of changes in how deputies relate to the public, of improvements to the jail with an emphasis on inmate work and spoke of his plans to purchase new police cars, equipment and to boost salaries.

Much of it will be paid for with a $4.25 million credit line from the bonding commission.

“I’m going deep in debt,” he said, adding later that he doesn’t mind spending the money if it means helping the deputies do a better job. And for a man who has repeatedly said he hated politics, Ackal worked the room like a gifted and polished politician. He hugged and shook hands, patted backs and kissed cheeks and then stopped for a moment to take a picture with loved ones.