MONROE, La. – It’s the first day of Jason Pleasant’s retirement from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and he’s already nearly three weeks into his new gig.
“Never figured this is where I’d be starting my second career,” said Pleasant.
But, he said, something led him to Green Oaks Juvenile Detention Center.
Right now, up to 40 young people call it home. About three dozen people work there, but Pleasant said that’s not enough.
“Even with COVID-19, with all the things that we’ve been through last year and this year, I realize how tiring it can be on staff to have to work over, to have to work extra hours. For us every day to try to ensure that we have sufficient staff to operate,” he explained.
So he’s hiring four full-time juvenile detention officers, two part-time officers and they’re poised to hire a registered nurse, as needed, to replace those who left. The decision was approved by Ouachita Parish Police Jury at their Monday night meeting.
“It’s not additional. It’s not an additional budget. It’s already budgeted to where we’re at now. There will be no additional cost to the police jury,” he said.
Pleasant said what he’s asking for is a fraction of the number of people the facility needs, but it’s one step toward taking the burden off the current staff.
