The old adage of "a new broom sweeps clean" certainly applies to the actions of Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn since taking office pm July 1 of last year. Depending on the topic of discussion, some say Whitehorn has implemented "good things" and others will say "bad things." And some will say both.
One of Whitehorn's actions has quietly caused angst among the CPSO office employees/deputies. In September of last year, this email was sent by executive assistant Camellia Williams to the Sheriff's leadership group:
"Good morning, all employees of the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office must sign the confidentiality agreement.
As leaders, please make sure that those in your division sign and return them to you. Once you have received them back, interoffice mail them to Camelia Williams. Please do so no later than Friday, September 234, 2024. Thank you for your diligence."
The non-disclosure confidentiality agreement is attached below.
Many CPSO employees were unhappy about this new requirement. At the same time many were concerned about their job security if the agreement was not signed by them.
Needless to say, CPSO employees were, and still are, very very hesitant to comment on this job requirement for obvious reasons. Openly, mum has been the word. But the walls of the offices on the seventh floor, the sheriff substations and other facilities including Caddo Correctional Center, have secrets that often leak out.
Add this Confidentiality Agreement to the list of "secrets" that will be forthcoming as more public records requests are answered. The high sheriff has virtually unlimited powers in the parish, but the Open Records Law trumps them.
Stay tuned.
