Former NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas Says He Will Not

One of the names that quickly drew attention after the resignation of former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith is officially out of the race.

Former New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas confirmed Monday that he will not run in this fall’s special election for St. Tammany Parish sheriff.

Last month, Serpas publicly acknowledged he was considering a campaign after Smith resigned following his guilty plea stemming from a confrontation at a Slidell steakhouse in which he assaulted a local blogger who had been critical of him.

According to Serpas, the deciding factor was his current professional commitments.

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“A decisive factor in considering a run for Sheriff is the impact on my decade-long consulting engagement,” Serpas said. “Campaigning would require permanently ending that successful relationship, regardless of the election outcome. For that reason, I will not be a candidate.”

Serpas brings decades of law enforcement experience, having previously served as superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, led the Washington State Patrol and the Nashville Metro Police Department, and currently serves as a professor of practice in criminology and justice at Loyola University New Orleans.

With Serpas now out, attention turns to the remaining candidates expected to compete in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched sheriff’s races St. Tammany Parish has seen in years.