Louisiana Sheriff Reduces Fleet

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter says he has traded in 40 vehicles – mostly older SUVs and pickup trucks – and used the money for 14 new cars and an unmarked pickup truck. He also is trying to sell a $300,000 fishing boat bought under former sheriff Vernon Bourgeois.

Larpenter tells The Courier that the office will pay less on gas and maintenance since it has sold the older, heavier vehicles.

The office is smaller because Larpenter laid off 23 deputies when he took over in July. He says several others quit.

Larpenter says that when he left the sheriff’s office in 2008 it had a $9 million surplus. He says that’s gone, and money is tight.