Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief James “Jimmy” Travis has officially announced his intention to seek election as the next Sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish.
Travis would become the successor to current Sheriff Daniel Edwards, who will retire in 2024 after 20 years of service.
Travis has a long history with Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and other Louisiana law enforcement agencies. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and began his career as a state probation and parole officer and later moved to a new role as an investigator with the state Attorney General’s Office, where he focused on cases of elder abuse in residential facilities.
In 1993, Travis joined the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office as a reserve officer. Travis has worked with every aspect of departmental operations throughout his tenure with the sheriff’s office.
For 18 years, he served full time as accreditation manager, developing policies and procedures that increased departmental performance, improved functioning, and maintained national accreditation standards.
After hearing a growing number of Kentwood residents raise concerns about widespread violence and drive-by shootings, Travis worked with Sheriff Edwards to spearhead the formation of a special Street Crimes Unit that assigned dedicated deputies to increase patrols and work with community members one-on-one.
Travis said he intends to continue focusing on proven successful initiatives and expanding them to include new special units.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s election will take place in fall 2023.
