By Paige Gurgainers
Bienville Parish Coroner Don Smith is serving the last week of his 20-year ‘tour of duty.’
He said, “This is not going to be easy for me. Jury members, staff and residents of Bienville Parish, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for allowing me to serve as your parish coroner.”
Smith has spent most of his adult life dedicated to community service. He has served in multiple capacities including law enforcement, fire fighting, volunteer ambulance and the Coroner’s office.
“It is soon to be the end of my tour of duty. It has been a very unique one,” said Smith. “After 20 years of service it comes to an end next week. It is time to hang up my badge. Hopefully now I will be able to get a good night’s sleep without getting that dreaded call at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning. Now I’m going fishing.”
Smith took a moment to thank the members of the coroner’s office and mentioned that due to their hard work and dedication, the Bienville Parish Coroner’s Office was recognized by the Louisiana State Coroner’s Association as one of the most ‘well respected and professional agencies in the state.’
The parish coroner is the most powerful person next the sheriff and the only person that has the authority to commit the state governor to a mental institution. Smith mentioned that this did occur in the 1950’s.
“We have had a lot of harsh experiences that you couldn’t imagine,” Smith continued. “Some of these cases that we have worked include the jury’s families unfortunately, plus past retired jurors that have passed on. Most folks in this room cannot fathom the type of work the coroner must endure. Most people believe our job is only to pronounce someone dead and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
He presented the Bienville Parish Police Jury (BPPJ) his end-of-year report last week that also included stats over the last two decades. The total cases equaled 5,385 and of those cases Smith personally worked 3,681 of them. The parish experienced 3,213 deaths. The coroner’s office issued an OPC (Order of Protection) in the amount of 728 and 1,123 CECs (Coroner Emergency Certificates). They also worked 447 sexual assault cases.
Coroner-elect Amanda Lindberg will be taking up the office on March 26 and Smith’s final request was that she not be disrespected as he has been.
According to Smith, the two municipalities of Arcadia and Ringgold have allegedly violated Louisiana state law by not paying funding that is due to the office for services totaling $118K. Smith has hired an attorney and filed a petition in an attempt to collect these funds.
He said, “We hope this can be set outside the court room without any further legal action.”
The BPPJ made a resolution honoring Smith for his 20 years of dedicated service, compassion and kindness to the people of the parish during ‘one of life’s hardest moments.’
“Thank you for all of your dedicated years of service to Bienville Parish,” said BPPJ President Darryl Ryder. “We are very grateful to have had someone who has the compassion for the job that you do and puts our families first. We do thank you for all of your time and tireless days of work. We hope your fishing trips generate lots of fish for you.”