Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Sheriff-elect Stitch Guillory has selected the command staff who will work by his side when he takes office on July 1.

The team of 20 law enforcement officers represent more than 600 years of law enforcement experience, he said during a Wednesday news conference.

There are more than 800 CPSO employees, and many of the current leaders are retiring. Guillory said this serves as an opportunity for younger CPSO employees to step up to the plate.

“When people retire, it gives younger deputies an opportunity to move up and become leaders within our department, and that’s always a great thing.”

All but two of the members of Guillory’s command staff are CPSO employees.

“We’re so fortunate that we have a number of people within our department that’s been here a number of years. It’s exciting for me to give them an opportunity to give them leadership within our sheriff’s office,” he said.

CPSO Enforcement Commander Gene Pittman will take the helm of chief deputy. He began working with CPSO in 1994, holding leadership roles in multiple departments including corrections and enforcement, narcotics and special services and investigations.

Guilory said the CPSO leadership hierarchy has had a “realignment” to keep up with the office’s expansion. This has led to the creation of new positions. One change that has been made under Guillory’s administration is the division of assistant chief deputy into three different roles: enforcement and investigations, support and corrections.

Lake Charles Police Department Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel will fill one of these three roles as assistant chief deputy of enforcement and investigations. He began his law enforcement career at LCPD in 1998 as a patrol officer and spent a majority of that time in the investigations division. He will retire from LCPD on Feb. 19, prior to his transition into CPSO.

Guillory’s assistant chief deputy of support will be Anothony “Trey” Mancuso III.  He has been in law enforcement since 2006, and has worked for the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sulphur Police Department and Louisiana State Police. Mancuso was unable to serve for CPSO previously as he is the son of  Sheriff Tony Mancuso, Guillory said.

Current Calcasieu Sheriff’s Prison Warden Jeff Miller will be the new assistant chief deputy of corrections. He has been with CPSO since 1999, and began his career as a correctional officer.

Nicole Ory will remain as the chief financial officer, a role she has served since 2020.

Carter Sitting will be the enforcement commander. He has been with CPSO since 1993, and most recently served as captain over the K-9, anti-crime, tactical and training unit team, marine and honor guard.

The role of special operations commander will be filled by Casey Williamson. He most recently served as captain in the support services division.

Current Investigations Commander Nick Fontenot will maintain his current role.

Casey Lafargue, who has served with CPSO since 2001, will be the specialized investigation commander.

Brandon Strenth will be the Calcasieu Correctional Center commander, and Chris Domingue will be the commander of Calcasieu Sheriff’s Prison.

Current Commander over Logistics Mike Fusilier will become the strategic operations commander.

Bob Norden will be commander of special services, Mike Walker will be commander of support services and Cinnamon Salvador will be commander of judicial services.

Adrian Quintela will be the new chief technology officer.

Jeff Cole will become the commander of administrative services, and Daniel Burkhalter will head compliance.

Kayla Vincent will maintain her role as public information officer, a position that she has served since 2020.

Guillory said when he becomes sheriff in July, his biggest challenge will be leaving CPSO better than when he found it.

“That’s going to be hard for me to do. Sheriff Mancuso has done an outstanding job in leading the men and women of our sheriff’s department. When I think of where we were when we started, to where we are now, we’ve made leaps and bounds.”