Press Release from the Gonzales Weekly Citizen
By: Wade McIntyre

TOP: Officials from left, Sherry Despino, CEO Ascension Chamber of Commerce, former Gonzales police chief Bill Landry, Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux, Police Chief Sherman Jackson, and City Councilmen Kirk Boudreaux, Kenny Matassa, and Terance Irvin.

Officials from around the parish gathered at the site of the old city swimming pool on Cornerview Road Monday,  where they celebrated next week’s  construction start on a new Gonzales police department with a spirited groundbreaking ceremony.

Adam Fishbein of Grace & Hebert Architects said construction will begin Monday, and wrap up in about a year.

In remarks, Mayor Barney Arceneaux thanked the “combination of folks” who helped make the new station a reality, and invited everyone to come back for the ribbon cutting.

“We have a wonderful police department and what we need now is a wonderful building,” he said.

Parish President Tommy Martinez noted that the project collaboration of state, parish and city government is probably the first post-Hurricane Gustav and Ike project brought about with recovery money in Ascension.
Sheriff Jeff Wiley said that the station would be a welcome addition to Gonzales.

“If it’s good for the City of Gonzales, it’s good for the parish and the sheriff’s department,” he said.

Gonzales Police Chief Sherman Jackson said his department has worked countless hours to see that the new station provides for the needs of the department and public.

The 19,000 square foot new station dwarfs the existing 5,000 square foot facility and will offer new opportunities for training classes for citizens, and neighborhood watch meeting spaces, Jackson said.

He thanked the city council and mayor for allowing the money to be spent on the new building.

Jackson said the police have a job to do, to make sure its citizens are protected.

“I’ve been in many places, but never a place that can compare to the wonderful, kind-hearted people of Gonzales,” he said.