Born to Protect and Serve
He doesn’t look anything like Opie, but Sheriff Willie Graves often compares himself to this popular TV personality from the 1950s. Like the son of the much-loved Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor, Willie Graves was “born and raised” in the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and grew up dreaming of a career in law enforcement – a career that would continue his family’s proud tradition of public service in Livingston Parish. He is presently serving in his fourth four-year term as the Livingston Parish Sheriff.

Born one year after his father Odom Graves began working at the Sheriff’s Office, Willie Graves began his own career there in July 1976 at the age of 19. From the humble beginnings of the “dog shift” in the radio room, he was transferred to the Uniform Patrol in 1977 after graduating from the LSU Law Enforcement Basic Training Academy. He worked in Uniform Patrol until the night of February 23, 1979, when a life-threatening accident reshaped his life and his career path.

While returning from Lafayette, Louisiana on Sheriff’s Office business, Graves stopped to render aid at an automobile accident. During this stop, Graves was struck by a passing motorist and severely injured. His recovery took over a year with many weeks in the hospital and multiple surgeries. In March 1980, he returned to work at a desk job because he was no longer able to physically perform the duties required of a Uniform Patrol officer.

Several months later, he was promoted to an Administrative Assistant position under his father, who had been elected to the position of Sheriff in 1976. This role gave Willie Graves the first taste of what it takes to run the Sheriff’s Office. He served in that capacity until 1982, when another major event occurred that helped to further shape his law enforcement and political career.

In September 1982, a major train derailment occurred in the town of Livingston resulting in the release and explosion of multiple hazardous chemicals and the evacuation of 2,700 residents for approximately two weeks. At the time, Sheriff Odom Graves was recovering at home from major surgery, and Willie Graves was sent out to coordinate the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office with other state agency and law enforcement personnel working at the derailment site. Many of these state leaders spoke admirably of Willie’s leadership role during the crisis, and as a result, he was promoted to the role of Chief Criminal Deputy in October 1982. His major accomplishments in this position included the opening of a new parish jail in 1983 and his selection in 1988 to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy, a three-month training program in Quantico, VA.

When his father announced his retirement plans in 1995, Willie Graves made the decision to run for Sheriff, to pick up where his father left off. He was elected with 79% of the vote and sworn into office on July 1, 1996, 20 years to the day of beginning his career with the Sheriff’s Office. He was re-elected to a second term in 1999 with 77% of the vote.

Sheriff Graves serves on the Advisory Boards for the Livingston Parish Council on Aging and the LSU Law Enforcement Academy. He is also a member of the Denham Springs Rotary Club, Louisiana Sheriffs Association, National Sheriffs Association and the Louisiana Peace Officers Association. He is married to the former Elaine Edwards and has a teenage daughter, Whitney. They live in Watson where they are active members of Live Oak United Methodist Church and enjoy camping in their spare time.

“I have always loved the law enforcement aspects of the job, but I was also taught early on that serving the public was just as important,” says Sheriff Graves. And so the proud tradition continues with another Graves at the helm in the Sheriff’s Office, working to protect and serve the residents of Livingston Parish.