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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

 

 

| name=Elmer B. Litchfield​

| name=Elmer B. Litchfield​

|nationality=[[United States|American]]​

|nationality=[[United States|American]]​

| occupation=Law-enforcement officer​

| occupation=Law-enforcement officer​

| spouse=Margery Ann Evans Litchfield (died 2005) ​

| spouse=Margery Ann Evans Litchfield (died 2005) ​

| children=Gary Stephen Litchfield (born 1958)<br>​

| children=Gary Stephen Litchfield

Marla L. Steepleton (born 1964) ​

Marla L. Steepleton ​

| religion=[[Baptist]]​

| religion=[[Baptist]]​

}}​

}}​

A [[Republican Party|Republican]] in a historically, but decreasingly [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state, Litchfield was first elected  as sheriff in 1983 and won large majorities in his five subsequent reelections. He retired because of health problems, effective December 1, 2006, with more than a year remaining in his sixth term.​

A [[Republican Party|Republican]] in a historically, but decreasingly [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state, Litchfield was first elected  as sheriff in 1983 and won large majorities in his five subsequent reelections. He retired because of health problems, effective December 1, 2006, with more than a year remaining in his sixth term.​

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Litchfield was a native of Meridian in eastern [[Mississippi]] He graduated from the [[University of Mississippi]] at Oxford in 1950. He served nearly two years in the [[United States Marine Corps]].​

Litchfield was a native of Meridian in eastern [[Mississippi]] He graduated from the [[University of Mississippi]] at Oxford in 1950. He served nearly two years in the [[United States Marine Corps]].​ He launched his career in law enforcement with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] in 1951, with duties as a special agent in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]],  [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]],  and eventually in [[New Orleans]] and Baton Rouge. He retired from the FBI in 1979 and then served with the Louisiana State Commission on Law Enforcement until he was elected sheriff.​<ref name=death/>

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Litchfield launched his career in law enforcement with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] in 1951. He worked as a special agent in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]],  [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and eventually in [[New Orleans]] and Baton Rouge. He retired from the FBI in 1979 and then served with the Louisiana State Commission on Law Enforcement until he was elected sheriff.​

Colonel Greg Donald Phares (born 1956), the chief criminal deputy, succeeded Litchfield as acting sheriff. Phares, a Republican was defeated in the November 17, 2007, general election by the Democrat,<ref>[http://www.sidgautreaux.com Sid Gautreaux Sheriff<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sid J. Gautreaux, III, the veteran police chief in Baker, Louisiana. Gautreaux polled 40,624 (52 percent) to Phares' 38,224 (48 percent) in an election with a 31 percent turnout.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns: East Baton Rouge Parish, November 17, 2007.</ref> In the primary, Phares had led Gautreaux, 46-37 percent, but the combined overall Democratic vote was then 51 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns: East Baton Rouge Parish, October 20, 2007.</ref> Gautreaux became sheriff immediately because the election was a combination general election and a [[special election]] for the months left in Litchfield's term.​

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Colonel Greg Donald Phares (born 1956), the chief criminal deputy, succeeded Litchfield as acting sheriff. Phares, a Republican was defeated in the November 17, 2007, general election by the Democrat,<ref>[http://www.sidgautreaux.com Sid Gautreaux Sheriff<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Sid J. Gautreaux, III, the veteran police chief  in Baker, Louisiana. Gautreaux polled 40,624 (52 percent) to Phares' 38,224 (48 percent) in an election with a 31 percent turnout.<ref>http://www.2theadvocate.com/; http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=11170717{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In the primary, Phares had led Gautreaux, 46-37 percent, but the combined overall Democratic vote was then 51 percent.<ref>[http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=10200717 Louisiana Secretary of State-Parish Elections Inquiry]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Gautreaux became sheriff immediately because the election was a combination general election and a [[special election]] for the months left in Litchfield's term.​

Phares declared Litchfield "one of the finest law enforcement officers I’ve ever worked for." Litchfield announced in 2004 that he would not run again and that he strongly supported Phares as his successor. The two met in 1973, when Phares was serving as a city police detective, and Litchfield was an FBI agent. They worked together on a [[bank robbery]] case.​<ref name=death/>

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==Accomplishments==​

During his almost six terms in office, Litchfield required all deputies to reside in East Baton Rouge Parish and canceled all special deputy commissions. He improved the parish jail system to the point that it was called one of the “most constitutionally operated system in the state", according to ''The Baton Rouge Advocate''.​

==Litchfield's accomplishments==​

During his almost six terms in office, Litchfield required all deputies to reside in East Baton Rouge Parish and canceled all special deputy commissions. He improved the parish jail system to the point that it was called one of the “most constitutionally operated system in the state", according to the ''Baton Rouge Advocate''.​

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Litchfield was not the first Republican to run for sheriff in East Baton Rouge Parish. In 1975, the then Republican mayor of [[Zachary, Louisiana]], [[Jack Breaux]], ran for sheriff and nearly won a runoff slot against the Democratic incumbent J. Al Amiss, who served from 1972 until his death in office early in 1983.​

Litchfield was not the first Republican to run for sheriff in East Baton Rouge Parish. In 1975, the then Republican mayor of [[Zachary, Louisiana]], [[Jack Breaux]], ran for sheriff and nearly won a runoff slot against the Democratic incumbent J. Al Amiss, who served from 1972 until his death in office early in 1983.​

Republican sheriffs have  been rare in Louisiana: in many of the sixty-four parishes, no serious Republican candidate has ever fared strongly in a sheriff's election. In a few parishes, no Republican has run for sheriff in modern times. The sheriff collects property taxes and enforces the law in parts of counties outside corporation limits. Many Louisiana voters consider the sheriff one of the most important public officials.​

Republican sheriffs have  been rare in Louisiana: in many of the sixty-four parishes, no serious Republican candidate has ever fared strongly in a sheriff's election. In a few parishes, no Republican has run for sheriff in modern times. The sheriff collects property taxes and enforces the law in parts of counties outside corporation limits. Many Louisiana voters consider the sheriff one of the most important public officials.​

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==Litchfield honored==​

==Honors==​

At his retirement reception, Litchfield said that he would particularly miss his employees and the public "very much. People have been very kind."​ Former State Representative Donald Ray Kennard of Baton Rouge told Litchfield at the reception: "We love you and will miss you. We are proud of you for the contributions you have made to the country, the state, and the parish." Kennard presented Litchfield with a plaque from the Louisiana House of Representatives.​

At his retirement reception, Litchfield said that he would particularly miss his employees and the public "very much. People have been very kind."​ Former State Representative Donald Ray Kennard of Baton Rouge told Litchfield at the reception: "We love you and will miss you. We are proud of you for the contributions you have made to the country, the state, and the parish." Kennard presented Litchfield with a plaque from the Louisiana House of Representatives.​

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Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeffery Earl "Jeff" LeDuff said that he began his law enforcement career in 1983, when Litchfield won his first of six terms as sheriff. "I’ve always found the sheriff to be a great law enforcement mind", LeDuff told the ''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''.​

Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeffery Earl "Jeff" LeDuff said that he began his law enforcement career in 1983, when Litchfield won his first of six terms as sheriff. "I’ve always found the sheriff to be a great law enforcement mind", LeDuff told the ''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''.<ref name=death/>

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Before his sheriff's tenure, Litchfield was the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice.​

Before his sheriff's tenure, Litchfield was the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice.​

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==Death and family==​

==Death and family==​

Litchfield was married to the former Mississippian Margery Ann Evans (June 6, 1931 &ndash; April 19, 2005). The EBR sheriff's department honored her memory by naming its nautical [[Special Weapons And Tactics]] team the "Miss Margery".​

Litchfield was married to the former Mississippian Margery Ann Evans (June 6, 1931 &ndash; April 19, 2005). The EBR sheriff's department honored her memory by naming its nautical [[SWAT]] team the "Miss Margery".​

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In retirement, Litchfield planned to spend half his time in Baton Rouge, where his son Gary Stephen Litchfield (born 1958) resides, and the other half in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], the home of his daughter, Marla L. Steepleton (born 1964). Litchfield had several health problems, including heart bypass surgery, [[prostate cancer]], and surgery to repair a hernia.​

In retirement, Litchfield planned to spend half his time in Baton Rouge, where his son Gary Stephen Litchfield (born 1958) resides, and the other half in [[Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], the home of his daughter, Marla L. Steepleton (born 1964). Litchfield had several health problems, including heart bypass surgery, [[prostate cancer]], and surgery to repair a hernia.​<ref name=death/>

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Litchfield died in Baton Rouge at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was held on August 7, 2008, at Florida Boulevard [[Baptist]] Church, with the Reverend Martin W. Corie officiating. He was interred beside his wife in Greenoaks Memorial Park.<ref name=death/>

Litchfield died in Baton Rouge at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was held on August 7, 2008, at Florida Boulevard [[Baptist]] Church, with the Reverend Martin W. Corie officiating. He was interred beside his wife in Greenoaks Memorial Park.<ref name=death/>