INDReporter

Garber names Stout top deputy

Sheriff-elect Mark Garber is beginning to round out his top brass, naming Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout as his chief deputy.

Stout, left, and Garber

Sheriff-elect Mark Garber is beginning to round out his top brass, naming Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout as his chief deputy. Stout will assume the position after Garber takes office on July 1, replacing longtime Sheriff Mike Neustrom, who did not seek re-election.

Stout has a quarter century experience in law enforcement going back to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office when he was fresh out of high school in 1990. There, he worked in various capacities including corrections, airport security, patrol and investigations. He was elected police chief in Carencro in 2002 and won re-election three times.

Art LeBreton

Stout will replace Art LeBreton as chief deputy, though Garber tells The Independent he "absolutely" hopes to retain LeBreton, a veteran of the department appointed to chief deputy by Neustrom in 2004. LeBreton also serves as Enforcement Division commander. "It's going to be a role commensurate with his talents and experience," Garber says of the offer being extended to LeBreton. "We're not going to lose any experienced people if I can avoid it."

“Carlos brings a combination of law enforcement experience and department management experience with him, and I think both qualifications are necessary to help run one of the largest sheriff’s departments in the State of Louisiana,” Garber says in a release announcing Stout's appointment. “He is respected, smart and will be an asset to my leadership team.”

Stout was joined by Duson Police Chief Kip Judice in endorsing Garber’s candidacy for sheriff prior to his Nov. 21 runoff election against Scott Police Chief Chad Leger.

“I am honored to be asked to be a part of Sheriff-elect Garber’s team and serve the people of Lafayette Parish,” Stout says in the release. “I will be committed to providing efficient and effective leadership and work with the men and women of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department to make our parish a safer community for all of us. I also want to thank the people of Carencro, who have trusted me to serve as their chief of police for the past 13 years. We have worked together to make Carencro a growing and thriving part of Lafayette Parish, and I will always be grateful for the years I got to serve the city.”