Across Madison Parish, patrol units from the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office cover towns, highways and rural roads each day and night. From Tallulah to Delta, and through communities including Waverly and Richmond, captains and deputies respond to calls, check businesses and work to prevent crime before it happens.
Sheriff Chad Ezell said he is proud of the department’s leadership, deputies and all staff.
“I have a very diverse staff that have many years of experience and training handling everything from shoplifting to homicides. These deputies serve the people of Madison Parish. I am proud of the work they do and I’m glad that they chose to work here.”
Jimmy Brooks, a patrol supervisor, said experience is central to the job. Brooks retired in 2021 after more than 28 years in law enforcement and later returned to service. “The more knowledge you have, the better off you’ll be,” he said.
Brooks said patrol work often includes checking on businesses after hours. “Me personally, I push to rattle doors and check businesses,” he said. He said business owners take comfort in knowing deputies are checking doors at night. On a busy night, he said deputies may drive up to 300 miles across the parish.
John Martin, a captain and patrol supervisor with 11 years at the office, oversees night shift operations. He said his role is to “maintain the daily operation of the sheriff department on night shift … ensuring that all calls are attended to make sure the jail is operational.”
Martin said patrol covers the entire parish, including city limits, and includes responses ranging from traffic crashes to unlocking vehicles. He said visibility is part of the mission. “Mainly just being seen in patrol and being proactive, trying to prevent crimes from happening,” he said.
“I come to work every night to do my job to ensure the safety to the citizens of Madison Parish,” Martin said, noting that assistance extends to the village of Delta and surrounding agencies when requested.
Ken Cheatum, a shift captain with more than 26 years at the office, said the department’s focus is public safety. “My duties is basically for the public safety, to make sure we answer calls, dealing with the public to assist in any matter,” he said.
Cheatum said his training emphasized respect for every person. “Everybody matters,” he said. He added that while arrests are sometimes necessary, “you don’t have to degrade them when you arrest them.”
He said deputies work to build relationships so residents feel comfortable approaching law enforcement. “It’s okay to talk to us,” Cheatum said, describing efforts to encourage conversations and community contact.
Drew Powers, a captain with 18 years at the office, supervises a three-man shift. “You’re in control of the shift,” he said, describing the rank structure and oversight responsibilities.
Powers said patrol work centers on visibility and prevention. “Just being visible, pretty much being seen and deterring crime,” he said. Deputies log miles each day while covering the parish, and he said officers try to respond to most calls with two deputies when possible.
“Patrol is trying to deter crime and help others in any way we can,” Powers said.
Together, the captains described a coordinated effort that extends beyond arrests. Patrol deputies answer calls, assist motorists, check businesses, support the jail and respond across the parish when needed. They emphasized teamwork, presence and service as core parts of the office’s role in Madison Parish.
