Chris Gideon — A Passion to Serve

Written by Nick Gagliano | Photos by Johnny Chauvin

FROM AN EARLY AGE, CHRIS GIDEON HAD A SPECIAL PASSION TO SERVE

With a father who served as Mayor of Ponchatoula and a major force in naming Ponchatoula the Strawberry Capital of the World, and a mother who volunteered countless hours on community projects, it is only natural that Chris Gideon has lived with a passion to serve.

“Serving the community was always part of my family’s everyday life. I watched my parents work to make our parish a better place to live for all families. Today, I’m ready to continue the tradition of serving the community as Sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish.”

School safety has been a passion of Chris Gideon since the Columbine tragedy as it changed the way law enforcement responded to active shooters in the school.

“In 2011, the Louisiana Attorney General contacted me to build and oversee a team to re-write the School Crisis Plan offered by the AG’s Office. Our team created an All Hazards School Safety Initiative which covers all aspects of active shooters as well as safety audits, anti-bullying, severe weather threats, hazardous materials threats, suspicious packages, and protocols for IED’s. These plans are still available today to schools and churches at no charge.”

Personal Safety and Firearms Safety are also part of every presentation by Chris Gideon. He is a certified concealed carry firearms trainer and conducts a monthly training session.

“I emphasize to my class that using a firearm should be a last resort because the only fight you are guaranteed to win is the one you avoid. As a firm believer in the Second Amendment, I make sure my class knows their rights regarding self-defense, justifiable use of force, firearms safety, and how not to become a victim.”

Late last year, because of Chris Gideon’s affiliation with law enforcement in Tangipahoa Parish, he was approached to run for sheriff. Gideon said he was flattered, but that was never part of his current plans.

“All of a sudden, I had more people calling me and my wife, Laurie, and we realized we had to take this idea of running for Sheriff seriously. Laurie and I talked about it, prayed about it and met with our family, and it was then that I made the decision to run for Sheriff of Tangipahoa Parish.”

Gideon said he is running for sheriff as an outsider who will bring a proactive approach to law enforcement in Tangipahoa Parish. He said his main goals are to put more patrol deputies on the roads, increase deputy and staff pay and training, and proactively attack the increase in violent crimes, narcotics, juvenile, gang, and property crimes.

“I realize there will be challenges, but I also know there will be opportunities to better serve the families and businesses in Tangipahoa Parish.”

“We live in a great parish and as Sheriff, I will use my passion to serve as the cornerstone for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. I have the experience, commitment, and support to pay and train our deputies, increase patrols, and proactively fight juvenile, gang, and property crimes.”

Preparedness is Key

Chris Gideon carries a trauma bag in his vehicle in the event of a critical incident. “I want everyone and every classroom to have a trauma kit along with the training to save the life of a child, a teacher, a loved one, yourself, or even a stranger. As your sheriff, I will make this type of training available to the public. Critical blood loss is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S.

.