Investigators allege an unprovoked ambush aided by a second participant
Highest-ranking law enforcement official must be held to the highest standard
Editorial
The allegations against St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith are troubling not merely because they involve a physical altercation, but because of who is accused.
Over the past week, many people have rushed to defend Smith by arguing that Bobby Couvillion had “crossed the line” in his criticism of the sheriff and his family. Others have responded with the familiar internet phrase: “FAFO.”
That argument misses the point entirely.
- What we know about the Randy Smith-Bobby Couvillion case
- Read the Attorney General’s Official report on Randy Smith with affidavit and arrest warrant…
- Read the Attorney General’s Official report on Gregory Saurage with affidavit and arrest warrant…
Mere words should never be met with violence from officials
Even if every criticism, accusation and personal attack ever directed at Smith were true, false, fair or unfair, none of it would justify an alleged physical assault. If the allegations contained in the arrest warrant are accurate, then what occurred at Keith Young’s Steakhouse was not a heated exchange of words. It was an alleged act of violence.
More importantly, the facts alleged by investigators do not describe two men exchanging heated words before tempers boiled over. According to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, surveillance video and witness statements indicate that Couvillion was seated at the bar when Smith allegedly approached him from behind, placed him in a chokehold and pulled him to the ground. Investigators further allege that another man, Gregory Saurage, identified Couvillion’s location and encouraged the confrontation moments before it occurred. Whether those allegations ultimately withstand scrutiny in court remains to be seen, but the conduct described by investigators is not a spontaneous argument that escalated into violence. It is an alleged ambush.
Civilized society cannot function if people are permitted to settle grievances with their fists.
Social media age makes public service less viable
There is, however, a larger issue worth acknowledging. The rise of social media has made public service more difficult than ever. Local officials routinely face insults, harassment, conspiracy theories and accusations that spread rapidly online. In many cases, false statements can circulate for years with little consequence. It is not unreasonable to believe this environment discourages good people from seeking public office.
That is a real problem.
But it is also precisely why law enforcement officers are expected to maintain composure and professionalism under pressure.
Every deputy on the street is expected to remain calm when confronted by an angry citizen, an intoxicated suspect or someone shouting insults. The public rightly expects officers to exercise restraint even when provoked. If that standard applies to a rookie deputy, it certainly applies to the sheriff.
In fact, the sheriff must be held to an even higher standard.
As the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in St. Tammany Parish, Smith is responsible for setting the example for every deputy under his command. Leadership is not demonstrated when circumstances are easy. Leadership is demonstrated when emotions run high and tempers flare. If a sheriff cannot maintain his composure in a public setting, what message does that send to the officers expected to follow his example?
Bystanders could have been injured
The damage extends beyond the individuals involved.
There is also a broader public-safety issue that should not be ignored. Keith Young’s Steakhouse was not a private residence. It was a crowded public restaurant. According to investigators, patrons ultimately became involved in attempting to separate the men. Physical violence in a crowded establishment creates risks far beyond the intended target. A bystander could have been knocked to the floor, struck by a falling chair or injured while attempting to intervene. The notion that this should be viewed merely as a private dispute between two men overlooks the reality that public acts of violence can endanger everyone nearby.
Embarrassment to parish when voters asked to approve taxes
St. Tammany Parish is currently engaged in important debates over taxes, budgets and the future direction of local government. Those discussions require public confidence in institutions and public officials.
Early voting for the June 27 Second Party Primary and Municipal General Election begins Friday, June 12, with St. Tammany Parish voters set to decide several races and propositions, including a renewal of a sheriff’s office property tax. The ballot includes a proposal to renew a 4.31-mill tax that the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says helps fund approximately 140 deputy positions. Election Day is June 27.
Regardless of the eventual outcome of the criminal case, this incident has become a distraction that undermines that confidence.
Adds fuel to groups alleging brutality
It also arrives at a time when law enforcement agencies across the country continue to face intense scrutiny. For years, critics of policing have argued that officers are too quick to resort to force. Supporters of law enforcement have countered that such portrayals are unfair and fail to reflect the professionalism of the overwhelming majority of officers.
These allegations about the sheriff only make that defense more difficult.
Public trust must be restored
Whether the alleged victim is a journalist, a podcaster, a political activist or an ordinary citizen should not matter. No person should have to wonder whether criticism of a public official could lead to physical retaliation. The free exchange of ideas depends on the ability to criticize those in power without fear of violence.
That principle is bigger than Bobby Couvillion. It is bigger than Randy Smith. It is about public trust. And public trust, once lost, is extraordinarily difficult to regain.
Several current and former public officials have already called for Smith’s resignation. Based on the seriousness of the allegations, the evidence described by investigators and the unique responsibilities of the office he holds, we believe he should have stepped down immediately.
Resignation is not an admission of guilt. The criminal justice system will determine guilt or innocence.
But the office of sheriff is built on public confidence. If the allegations outlined by investigators are even substantially true, that confidence has been compromised in a way that makes continued service untenable.
The people of St. Tammany Parish deserve law enforcement leaders who not only enforce the law, but embody the restraint, professionalism and judgment the law requires.
- What we know about the Randy Smith-Bobby Couvillion case
- Read the Attorney General’s Official report on Randy Smith with affidavit and arrest warrant…
- Read the Attorney General’s Official report on Gregory Saurage with affidavit and arrest warrant…
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