In the Village of Delta, David Beckham wears more than one hat.
As town marshal, he oversees law enforcement for the community. As head of the Delta Volunteer Fire Department, he also leads emergency fire response efforts. For nearly two decades, Beckham has served in both roles, working to keep the town and the stretch of Interstate 20 that runs through it safe.
“June will be 17 years,” Beckham said of his time as marshal.
Over the course of those years, he has seen steady changes in law enforcement, particularly in technology.
“You always get changes. Technology comes up, tasers, body cameras,” he said. “You got to go up with the technology.”
Beckham said the department is currently preparing to implement handheld citation devices to assist with traffic enforcement on the interstate.
“Trying to stop people from slowing down, speeding so much on interstate,” he said. “We got new devices coming in. It's going to help with that.”
A Different Kind of Patrol
A significant portion of Beckham’s law enforcement work takes place along Interstate 20, where drivers pass through from across Louisiana and neighboring states.
He said policing the interstate is different from working strictly inside a small town.
“Working the interstate is a different ball game than working inside of a town,” he said. “Inside of town … you got a small town and you know the history of everybody. That interstate, you don't know nothing.”
On the interstate, officers encounter people from across the country. Beckham said that uncertainty requires constant awareness.
“You don't know who you're pulling over,” he said. “You just got to be on your Ps and Qs at all out.”
His office also works with surrounding agencies. Recently, Delta assisted in attempting to locate a suspect wanted out of Arkansas after receiving information relayed from Mississippi.
“We passed on the information to other agencies,” Beckham said.
That cooperation is part of a broader network of law enforcement across state lines, particularly in communities connected by major highways.
Following in His Father’s Footsteps
Beckham said his path into law enforcement began early in life.
“My entire life,” he said when asked if he always wanted to become a police officer.
His father, Robert Ott, served as a police officer and later as mayor of Delta for 26 years. Beckham said watching and listening to his father shaped his decision.
“Listened to him talk … listened to his story of being a police officer, helping,” he said. “I'm like, I got to do that.”
That legacy of service ties Beckham’s work today to decades of public service in the same town.
Fire Protection and Volunteer Service
In addition to his duties as marshal, Beckham runs the Delta Volunteer Fire Department. In a rural community, volunteer fire departments play a critical role in responding to structure fires, vehicle fires and other emergencies.
Managing a volunteer department requires coordination, training and readiness at all times.
Though he did not dwell on the details during the interview, the dual responsibility underscores the reality of public service in small towns — where one individual may serve in multiple capacities to ensure coverage.
Staying Home
Beckham has lived in Delta for 49 years. When asked why he chose to remain rather than move elsewhere, his answer was direct.
“It’s home,” he said. “No place like it.”
He described Delta as a quiet town where people know each other — a place where service is personal.
That connection to place appears to guide his work.
“Helping the community. Trying to keep it safe, keeping the crime rates down and being here for the community,” Beckham said.
From traffic enforcement on Interstate 20 to coordinating with other agencies and leading a volunteer fire department, Beckham’s work spans both prevention and response.
In a village where many residents know each other by name, his presence represents continuity — a marshal who grew up there, chose to stay and continues to serve.
