Nathan Keller said one of his goals as the Ward 3 Marshal is to restore the youth’s trust in law enforcement so that children and teens aren’t afraid to approach them.

“What good is a uniform and badge if youth are running away from you,” asked Keller, 57, who assumed the role of marshal in January. “It’s important for the youth to know that law enforcement is not the enemy.”

Having an open dialogue between local youth and law enforcement is key in changing perspectives, Keller said. He has officers visit local schools and meet with students at football and baseball games in order to make them more relatable.

“Sometimes, young people want to be heard, and we have to shut up and listen because they have a lot to say,” he said. “We can become more approachable when we’re doing our jobs, especially in light of all the negativity with law enforcement that’s out there.”

Keller, who has lived in Lake Charles since he was a child, said he grew up knowing the police officers in his community.

“When we got in trouble, they took us home, and mom and dad took care of business,” he said. “Back then, you didn’t have as many officers, but the few you had were able to communicate and take care of business.”

Keller joined the Lake Charles Police Department in 1988 as a 23-year-old and retired in 2018 as commander of operations, overseeing traffic, community policing and the patrol division.

“That’s where I guess I took the concept of community policing being a philosophy, not a division,” he said.

Keller ran for the Ward 3 Marshal seat in late 2018, but lost to Vic Salvadore. He ran again last year and was elected in December, becoming the first African American to hold the office.

The rise of social media and technology has also impacted the way youth interact, Keller said. He said he has seen attitudes toward law enforcement change over the years.

“When I came up, there was no such thing as talking back to a law officer,” he said. “Now, it’s ‘How come you are stopping me?’ I’m not condoning any law enforcement officer that discriminates based on race or does criminal acts. People as a whole need to get back and start trusting and respecting law enforcement. Part of that is officers going out in the community and regaining that trust.”

Since taking over as city marshal, one of Keller’s first actions was to meet with city judges, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office and Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter on an amnesty program for residents who had outstanding city warrants, such as traffic violations, but had not returned since the landfall of Hurricanes Laura and Delta. He said the effort cut fees by over half to clear up those warrants and prevent residents from having their driver’s licenses suspended.

“Several hundred people took advantage of that program,” he said. “They can now apply for jobs that require a driver’s license.”

The Ward 3 Marshal’s office handles evictions. Keller said he has coordinated a campaign to make sure landlords and tenants know their rights and the eviction process. The office has also provided information on programs that can provide tenants with rental assistance, a crucial need with the ongoing post-hurricane housing shortage.

Keller brought in Steve Thompson, coordinator of the criminal justice program at McNeese State University, to hold a training workshop on de-escalation techniques for deputies under the marshal’s office.

Keller said his office also seeks to help the elderly and protect them from abuse and fraud. As seniors returned to nursing homes and assisted living facilities after the hurricanes, he organized a parade to welcome them back to Lake Charles.

Keller said the marshal’s office has also teamed up with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Pick it Up anti-litter initiative to actively investigate litter complaints..

“So many contractors and out-of-town people are just dumping material on the side of the road, instead of properly dumping it at the right locations,” he said.

The Ward 3 Marshal’s Office partnered with the United Way of Southwest Louisiana on trips to Houma, Thibodaux and White Castle to cook meals for residents impacted by Hurricane Ida.

Keller said he enjoys Lake Charles because the city continues to grow, but it’s not so big that people don’t know who their neighbors are.

“If you go to the store or an event, you’re going to see someone you know,” he said. “We still consider each other family. That’s why I stay here.”