Corrections Division

Sammy LaPorte, Warden

Captain Sammy LaPorte started his law enforcement career in the Corrections Division of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office in June 1994 under Sheriff Ray LeMaire. After a year and a half, he became a VPSO patrol deputy where he remained until he was promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) in 2002.

Captain LaPorte progressed through the ranks of the Criminal Investigations Division over the next twenty-two years. In 2006, under Sheriff Mike Couvillion, he was promoted from Detective Sergeant to Lieutenant of the Intel Division where he assisted all members of the CID. In January of 2018, Captain LaPorte was named the Chief of Detectives until July 2023 when he was promoted to Chief of Investigations.

Captain LaPorte was instrumental in starting the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) in 2005 as the inaugural SRT Commander. Captain LaPorte has been the master Defensive Tactics instructor at VPSO and has taught other less lethal uses of force for over 20 years. He has also served as a Crisis Negotiator.

Captain LaPorte graduated from Abbeville High School in 1985. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served 6 1/2 years of active-duty service.