Constable Eric Hatfield announces candidacy for Caddo Parish Sheriff

CADDO PARISH, LA (KSLA) - Caddo Parish Constable Eric Hatfield announced his candidacy for Caddo Parish Sheriff.

“I am a candidate and I would very much like to be the Caddo Parish Sheriff," Hatfield told his supporters at a news conference Monday morning at the Riverfront park.

Within seconds of announcing his candidacy Hatfield went on the attack and made some strong accusations about how current Sheriff Steve Prator is running the office.

"We need a sheriff who sees no color, we need a sheriff that promotes his deputies based on tenure, seniority and the ability to handle the position," said Hatfield.

Sheriff Prator points out that out of the 8 captains in the Caddo Sheriff's Office four of them are black and four are white.

Hatfield told his supporters, if elected, he would run a more transparent sheriff's Office.

“That's not possible. That is impossible to have a more transparent organizations than the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office,” said Sheriff Prator.

“Certainly if you can find someone whose been tougher on crime and more careful with the money than I have for the last 15 years, then get after it,” said Sheriff Prator.

Hatfield says it's time for a change and made several accusations related to race and ticket quotas.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says he will be running for re-election. Prator has served as sheriff for the last 15 years.

The election for Caddo Parish Sheriff will be held in October of 2015. The qualifying deadline is in September.

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