A former St. Tammany Parish deputy claimed the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office operated under a culture of fear, retaliation and favoritism during former Sheriff Randy Smith’s tenure, while current leadership disputes the claim and says the agency is working to rebuild trust after Smith’s guilty plea and retirement.
Current leadership sat down with WDSU; watch the extended interview below:
Chris Washington, a Medal of Valor recipient who worked at the office from 2019 to 2021, claimed signs of unequal treatment and a “good-old-boy system.”
“Leadership gets to do whatever they want, and it’s almost like, ‘I dare you to say something,'” Washington said.
Washington said he left after seeing what he believed was a pattern of favoritism.
“I saw behind the curtain, and I left,” Washington said. “I saw that, depending on who you are, you can do what you want.”
He also claimed deputies talked about what they would do if they ever had to pull Smith over during a traffic stop.
“If you make it up to the window, just walk away,” Washington said. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”
Chief Deputy Greg Cox confirmed Washington worked for the agency but said those concerns were not raised in his exit interview.
Cox said deputies were never instructed not to respond to calls involving Smith.
On Washington’s claim about deputies discussing traffic stops involving Smith, Cox said he was not aware of such conversations being formally addressed.
“Definitely wasn’t addressed to not do something or do something if you come in contact with the sheriff,” Cox said. “I can see people talking about what would you do if you pulled over any sheriff but nothing we spoke about for sure.”
Cox said Smith’s guilty plea and departure impacted the agency.
“I am not saying there wasn’t some sort of culture problem,” Cox said. “The agency as a whole, it ran the way it should because of the people who work and do it.”
Cox said he is aware that changes need to be made.
“There needs to be a culture change, especially at a minimum in perception,” Cox said. “Stability, open-door policy, anything they want to talk to us about, problems, let us know.”
He said current leadership wants employees and the public to feel more comfortable with the agency.
“If they felt like that, it is no longer, and that is the one thing Sheriff Bret Ibert and I are focused on — weed out anything that presents itself like that,” Cox said.
Smith left office after pleading guilty following a steakhouse attack in Madisonville.
The victim in the case is Bobby Couvillon.
Prosecutors said he was grabbed by the neck from behind and pulled to the ground before repeatedly striking him. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained a concussion and dental injuries.
“There may have been red flags somewhere else, very well could have been, but not in the office work-related,” Cox said.
WDSU Investigates found records showing Smith swiped into work on May 29, the day of the attack.
WDSU Investigates asked for copies of complaints filed against Smith and received the following response:
“STPSO does not maintain a centralized repository for employee complaints. Not all complaints are investigated or processed through our IA Department, as certain complaints may be handled by other divisions or resolved through alternative processes, as appropriate. Often times complaints are resolved at a supervisory level and therefore, may not result in the creation of a record. Nonetheless, we have confirmed that no complaints were received by our IA Department and no complaints are documented in the former Sheriff’s personnel records for the duration of his employment with the STPSO.”
Sheriff Randy Smith pleaded guilty to felony second-degree battery and misdemeanor disturbing the peace by public intoxication in connection with the May 29 altercation that investigators said left the victim with a concussion and dental injuries.
A judge sentenced Smith to two years at hard labor, but suspended the sentence and placed him on two years of supervised probation. He must also complete a specialty court program expected to last 15 to 18 months. If he successfully completes the program and meets all probation conditions, his felony conviction could be reduced to simple battery. If he fails, the felony conviction and sentence will remain in place, and he could face prison time.
Cox also said he did not expect Smith’s conduct to lead to such an incident.
“I didn’t think this would happen,” Cox said. “Anybody is capable of anything. Never did I think the sheriff — that would happen.”
Cox noted that the sheriff is an elected official and said that creates limits on internal oversight.
“He’s the sheriff. He can do what he wants,” Cox said. “The anomaly there — the sheriff does not have a boss.”
This isn’t the first scandal with the sheriff’s office.
Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain is currently serving four life sentences without parole for aggravated rape, incest, and other sex crimes, as well as a 10-year federal prison sentence for bribery.
“The part that sickens me that public puts anything the sheriff would do on them; they do such a good job,” Cox said. “How Strain acted, or Randy Smith acted, it is a shame that happened; there’s such good men and women here.”
Cox said despite the incidents, improvements are already being felt across the department.
“Since that incident and he left, things have gotten a lot better,” Cox said. “People feel a little more comfortable now in that sense.”
Washington said he would consider returning to law enforcement under the right leadership.
“Change is slowly but surely happening,” Washington said. “At least by speaking up, maybe I can help guide it.”
Cox said the changes should not just be felt across the department, but also throughout the community.
“We want everybody to feel comfortable here,” Cox said. “We don’t have politics. Ex-employees, you are welcome here. This is your home. The public too — we want to be transparent, everyone to feel welcome.”
WDSU asked Smith’s attorney for an on-camera interview for this story. We are still waiting to hear back.
Read Randy Smith’s full letter below:
“After 40 years in law enforcement serving the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, I am announcing my retirement as Sheriff of St. Tammany Parish.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this community. Prior to being elected Sheriff, I served as Chief of Police for the City of Slidell for six years. For more than a decade as your Sheriff, my focus has always been on providing the highest quality of public service while ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens.
“During my tenure, we have achieved many accomplishments together. We improved pay and benefits for our deputies, invested in advanced equipment and training, maintained one of the lowest crime rates in more than a decade, and achieved a 95% case clearance rate. We expanded to four patrol districts, increased manpower, improved response times, and enhanced visibility throughout our growing parish. We established a Crisis Intervention Team, strengthened our Criminal Narcotics Division, expanded community outreach efforts, enhanced technology across the agency, and implemented the School Resource Officer Program.
“I am proud to leave this agency stronger than when I was elected. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of the men and women of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“After much thought and consideration, I believe retiring at this time is in the best interest of the agency, my family, and the citizens of St. Tammany Parish. Effective immediately, Deputy Chief Bret Ibert is promoted to Chief Criminal Deputy, Chief Civil Deputy, and Second in Command. In accordance with state law and agency protocol, Chief Deputy Ibert will serve as Interim Sheriff until a new Sheriff is elected.
“My final day as Sheriff will be June 24, 2026, at 1 p.m.
“Thank you for the trust and support you have given me throughout my career. Serving the people of St. Tammany Parish has been the greatest honor of my professional life.”
Bobby Couvillion released the following victim: impact statement regarding the conviction/guilty plea of former Sheriff Randy Smith:
“I am grateful that the truth came to light and that justice was not swept under the rung simply because of who was in volved. No one, regardless of their position or title should be able to use force against an innocent person without consequence. This outcome sends that message clearly.
“I had faith that if the facts were allowed to speak for themselves, the right outcome would follow.
“That faith was rewarded.
“A sheriff who attacks a private citizen without provocation has betrayed every voter who put him in office and every deputy who serves honorably under his command.
“Again, I want to reiterate that I am proud that justice was not quietly buried to protect a title and I am pleased that the system worked as it should and commend the investigators and prosecutors who refused to treat this case as anything less than what it was, an unprovoked crime of violence.”
READ MORE:Former St. Tammany deputy alleges favoritism, fear under Randy Smith; leadership responds
