My new book, Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriffs: A Culture of Corruption, is scheduled to hit the stands later this week.
The book profiles cases of malfeasance, mismanagement, theft, and murder tied to several parish sheriffs, along with stories of some of the state’s more colorful but less felonious sheriffs to grace the front pages of the state’s newspapers.
Coincidentally, the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association is scheduled to hold its Sheriffs’ and Wardens’ Annual Training Conference on July 14-17 at the L’auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles.
The event is open to active sheriffs and deputies, retirees and, of course, vendors.
It’s somewhat interesting that the conference is being held in a casino.
Culture of Corruption indeed.
The LSA has also announced that it is launching a statewide PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN on the role of the Louisiana Sheriff. It’s unknown if the presentation has been shown to Louisiana sheriffs and deputies.
Registration for the conference (no vendors) will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 14. Also at 1 p.m., the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Law Enforcement Program (LSLEP) Board of Managers will meet. LSLEP is the risk management arm of the LSA which has paid out more $6 million in judgments and settlements since 2015, more than $2.5 million of that by Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal, who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
The LSA general membership meeting will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
On Monday, registration (no vendors) will be from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Here’s a good one: Sheriffs’ Training will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday. Additional training will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Wardens’ Training will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 16.
And what would a sheriffs’ conference be without a slew of vendors’ exhibitions: from 7 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and 7 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.
Or the breakfast with vendors at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and the President’s/Vendors’ reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
The board of directors meeting of the The Louisiana Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Political Action Committee (LASHADPAC) will be held on the opening day from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
And then there’s the all-important golf tournament that tees off at 8 a.m. on Sunday ($125 entry fee).
I thought about paying an entry fee and setting up a vendor’s table at the conference to sell my book but everyone I asked said it might be a bad idea.
So, here’s the deal. I’m offering signed copies of the book to readers for 30 bucks. You may purchase the book by credit care by clicking on the yellow 
button at the upper right of this post. If that doesn’t work for you, you may send a check for $30 to Tom Aswell, P.O. Box 922, Denham Springs, LA. 70727.
The books will be mailed as soon as they are delivered by the printer on Wednesday.
Louisiana Voice 
Journalism is a dangerous business: “I thought about paying an entry fee and setting up a vendor’s table at the conference to sell my book”… OML! … Excuse Me? Do you need a bodyguard OR a Secret Service agent? I had no idea you had such a ‘dry’ sense of humour! LMAO! OK, did I tell you the one about Edwin Edwards, David Duke and Buddy Roemer on the campaign trail?…
Come on, let me see a smile! !-)
The Louisiana Sheriffs Association video should make those sheriffs who reflect its message proud of what they do. By the same token, it should make those who abuse their power realize the disservice they are doing and feel at least a tinge of guilt for doing so. As I said earlier, Tom’s book does not paint all sheriffs with the broad brush of corruption. It does clearly show how, given the nature of the office, the things he reports are possible. When the power of the sheriff is used for good, it has almost limitless potential. Unfortunately, the same is true when it is misused.