Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft’s retirement will be short-lived: He retires as Lafayette’s top cop on Jan. 31 and will drive to Baton Rouge the next day to begin serving as the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. Craft’s hire is among a slew of new cabinet appointments announced Tuesday by Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards.
Upon his retirement from the LPD Craft will have served the city of Lafayette for 39 years, working his way up from patrol and investigations before being named chief by former City-Parish President Joey Durel in 2007. Read more about Craft’s retirement from the LPD here.
According to its website, the the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement works “improve the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice system and promote public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.”
Craft tells ABiz he will commute to Baton Rouge. He also tells ABiz he will discuss the position of interim chief for the LPD with Mayor-President Joel Robideaux this week.
Edwards also announced the following cabinet appointments today:
Secretary, Department of Health and Hospitals – Dr. Rebekah E. Gee
Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality – Dr. Chuck Brown
Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Correction – Jimmy LeBlanc
Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board Chairman – Johnny Bradberry
Director, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness – Jim Waskom
Executive Director, Louisiana Workforce Commission – Ava Dejoie
Executive Director, Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority – Senator Robert Adley
State Fire Marshal, Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal Public Safety Services – Butch Browning