New Year/ New Leadership

The new year brought new leadership to the Bossier Parish Police Jury.

At the beginning of the first agenda meeting of 2025 outgoing President Philip Rodgers exchanged seats with incoming President Glenn Benton, who has served on the police jury since 2007. Afterward, Benton presented Rodgers with a plaque and congratulated him on his work as president over the past year.

“Glenn has the full support of the jury,” said Rodgers. “We have a great group leader on the jury, and I am confident that Glenn will do a great job leading us this year.

Benton was appointed to the Bossier Parish Police Jury in May 2007 to complete an unexpired term in District 2. He was elected to a full term on the jury in 2008 and retired from his construction business to devote his time to District 2. He believes having water and sewer throughout the parish will allow for the growth of new businesses that could be in the parish. “I want to continue to expand our water and sewer to all areas of Bossier Parish to keep up with the growing needs of the parish,” Benton said. He also knows the jury must work with the State and Federal delegations to secure funds to help update the parishes’ transportation plan. “We have made great improvements with the Arthur Ray Teague extension and Swan Lake Road extension but with all the growth we are experiencing, we need to be prepared for the citizens we represent.  Looking to the future, Benton says he will continue to assist the Cyber Innovation Center in its continual growth with hopes to bring good-paying jobs for our college graduates. “The future is bright for Bossier Parish, and I am honored my fellow Jurors have given me this opportunity to lead this coming year.”

This is Benton's third time serving as president of the police jury. He became involved in statewide activities on behalf of the police jury and was elected to the state executive board in 2012.

The next move by the jury was the appointment of District 11 Juror Tom Salzer to serve as this year’s Vice President. Salzer was also appointed to the police jury after he won a special election to complete Wayne Hammack's term in 2016.    

Afterward, the jury had to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat in District 1 left by the passing of Bob Brotherton. Parish Attorney Patrick Jackson addressed the jury regarding the Secretary of State's procedures for appointing an interim juror until a special election can be held. He explained that, according to the law, the police jury has 20 days to appoint someone to the seat, and that if they delay the appointment, they risk passing the allotted time. He also stated that Brotherton and his family wished Kim Gaspard to take his seat. In response, the jury voted unanimously to appoint Gaspard to District 1’s seat. Bossier Clerk of Court Jill Sessions swore Gaspard in as the juror and afterward, he took the seat recently occupied by Brotherton.

Another big move for the police jury came in the change of staff. Butch Ford, who served as Parish Administrator for three years retired on Monday. 

Since 2003, Butch Ford has provided engineering leadership for the Bossier Parish Police Jury as Parish Engineer. Bossier Parish has experienced unprecedented growth during this time frame and is recognized as the fifth fastest-growing parish in Louisiana. He was appointed by the Police Jury in 2021 to serve as parish administrator. “I am excited, very excited to see what this group accomplishes the next 20 years because it’s going to be more than what we’ve ever done,” Ford said.

The Jury voted for Dr. Ken Ward as the new Parish Administrator for Bossier Parish. He brings valuable experience from his previous 17 years with Caddo Parish. The Jury looks forward to the positive contributions he will make to our community. “As a lifelong resident of Bossier Parish, I am appreciative of the opportunity to be at home,” Dr. Ward said. 

Link to video of Gaspard being sworn in and taking the District 1 seat.