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Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator announced today the upcoming retirement of Chief Criminal Deputy D.E. Stevens.
Stevens, who has 44 years in law enforcement, including 16 as Chief Deputy, will leave the department at the end of this month.
“It has been such an honor and privilege to have worked side by side with my closest confident and friend. Words can’t describe how I will miss him,” Prator said.
Prator appointed Stevens as his right-hand man after winning his first term in office in 2000. Both had previously served together at the Shreveport Police Department.
At SPD, Stevens worked as a patrol officer, investigator, and supervisor of Investigations, including the Homicide Division. He was the Special Response Team commander and primary sniper for the unit. He retired from SPD as supervisor of the Narcotics Unit and SRT. As Chief Deputy, he has been responsible for supervision over day-to-day activities involving Patrol, Detention, and Special Teams.
Stevens said leaving the Sheriff’s Office will be bittersweet. “It was always my dream to be in law enforcement,” he said. “Caddo Parish, the City of Shreveport, and Steve Prator have allowed this country boy to live his dream... Who wouldn’t be proud to retire as Chief Deputy?”
Replacing Stevens will be Lt. Jay Long, a 26-year-veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. He will immediately begin working alongside Stevens until the retirement is official.
Long joined the Sheriff’s in 1990 after serving six months as a reserve deputy. He has served in Corrections, Patrol, Investigations, Juvenile, Intelligence, and Special Investigations. He was a team leader and sniper on the CPSO Special Response Team, a diver on the Search and Rescue Team, Field Training Officer and supervisor on Patrol, a supervisor in Investigations and Youth Services, DARE instructor, and White Collar Crimes supervisor. He has served on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, has worked a number of protective details for dignitaries, and is a POST firearms instructor.
Of his appointment, Long said, “I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
