Rapides Parish, La. (UrbanCast: 6/9/2026) – Rapides Parish voters will decide the future of several law enforcement and community programs when they head to the polls on June 27.
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that a parish-wide sheriff’s office millage renewal will appear on the ballot. Originally approved in 1985, the tax helps fund general operations, personnel, equipment, and specialized programs throughout the parish.
If approved, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office millage renewal would continue the existing tax without increasing the millage rate for property owners.
Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit
Among the programs supported by the funding is the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit. Established in 2020, RADE investigates drug trafficking, targets illegal narcotics, and works to disrupt criminal activity associated with drug distribution.
“When people think about narcotics enforcement, they often think only about drugs,” Sheriff Mark Wood said. “What our deputies see every day is that drug trafficking affects much more than that. It contributes to property crimes, child neglect, overdoses, and other criminal activity.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, RADE investigators made 890 arrests during 2025. The unit also seized 131 firearms connected to criminal activity and removed more than 560 pounds of illegal narcotics from circulation.
Those seizures included more than 109 pounds of methamphetamine, 65 pounds of fentanyl, 65 pounds of cocaine, and more than 220 pounds of marijuana. Investigators also confiscated other illegal narcotics and controlled substances.
Special Victims Unit
The millage also supports the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, which works alongside the Family Justice Center.
Deputies, investigators, and partner agencies assist survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. They also connect survivors with services and resources available through the Family Justice Center.
“One of our SVU detectives, Shelby Anderson, said something the other day that really stuck with me,” Wood said. “She said many of these survivors come to us during one of the most difficult times in their lives, and that’s true.”
Wood said the unit’s mission is to support survivors, pursue justice, and hold offenders accountable.
Funding also supports the Resident Deputy Program. Resident deputies serve eight areas of Rapides Parish, including three communities north of the Red River and five south of the river.
The program provides residents with direct access to deputies who know the communities they serve.
“Whether it’s a dog at large, a trespassing complaint, a property line dispute, or another local issue, people often want to talk to somebody they know and trust,” Wood said.
SAFE Program
The Sheriff’s Office also operates the SAFE Program. The initiative introduces young people to outdoor activities such as firearms safety, shooting sports, archery, and fishing while connecting them with positive adult role models.
“We want to teach them there’s more to life than cell phones, staying in the house, and playing video games,” Wood said. “We want to teach them how to fish, teach them about the outdoors, and show them opportunities they may never have experienced before.”
Voters will decide the millage renewal during the June 27 election. If approved, the measure will continue funding programs and services currently supported through the existing tax.
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