Longtime Franklinton Police Chief Donald Folse has retired
and former State Police Major Olander Smith has been hired as the Town’s new
chief.
Folse has been considering retirement for some time due
to health issues and decided recently to do so.
Smith retired from the state police as commander of
Region 1, which includes three state police troops. Earlier he had been
commander of Troop L in Mandeville which serves Washington Parish and other
nearby parishes. He had worked with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office
under Sheriff Randy Seal following his retirement from the state police.
Folse had a long career in law enforcement. In addition to
his service with the Franklinton Police Department, he also served with the
Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. He served as former Chief of Police Lynn
Armand’s captain when the police department was in its old building on Pearl
Street. When Armand retired in late 1994, Folse was elevated to chief as of
January 1, 2005.
Folse has said that overseeing law enforcement in
Franklinton during and after Hurricane Katrina was among his greatest
challenges as chief.
With Folse’s retirement and Smith’s appointment,
Franklinton Mayor Wayne Fleming and the Board of Aldermen released a statement
which said, in part:
“Chief Folse has done a tremendous job in leading the
Franklinton Police Department to be recognized as one of the best in the state.
We thank him for his 10-plus years of dedicated service at FPD to the citizens
of our town and wish him nothing but the best.
“We are pleased to announce that Olander Smith will serve
as our next Chief of Police. Chief Smith has over 30 years of experience with
the Louisiana State Police. He has also worked with the Washington Parish
Sheriff’s Office during his career. He is well respected by the law enforcement
community as well as the general public. We are confident he will continue to
lead the department in a positive direction. At the request of Chief Smith,
Chief Folse will assist in the transition.”
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| Former Chief of Police Donald Folse recently retired after 10-plus years of service to the citizens of Franklinton. During his tenure as chief, the Franklinton Police Department was named as the best department in the state on several occasions. |
