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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]].​ 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/> Before his tenure as sheriff, Litchfield was the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice.

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/> Before his tenure as sheriff, Litchfield was the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice.

==Career as sheriff==​

==Career as sheriff==

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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 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 seven months left in Litchfield's term.​

Colonel Greg Donald Phares (born 1956), the chief criminal deputy, 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/>

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/>

===Accomplishments and honors===

Though Phares succeeded Litchfield, his tim in office as limited to one year. Phares, like Litchfield a Republican, was defeated in the November 17, 2007, general election by the Democrat 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 seven months left in Litchfield's term.​

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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''.​

​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 in East Baton Rouge Parish, [[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 in East Baton Rouge Parish, [[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.​

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/>

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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Mike Barnett, a retired colonel from the Sheriff’s Office with thirty-seven years of service, said that he met Litchfield while working with the FBI as a bank robbery investigator. “Litchfield is a kind, good man and is the best of bosses,” said Barnett, who was Litchfield’s assistant and chief criminal deputy. “He gave you a job and let you do it, and he wouldn’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself."​ Barnett found Litchfield to be more of a law enforcement man than a politician. On several occasions, according to Barnett, Litchfield said that if "you do the right thing, the politics will take care of the rest".<ref name=death/>​

Mike Barnett, a retired colonel from the sheriff’s office with thirty-seven years of service, said that he met Litchfield while working with the FBI as a bank robbery investigator. “Litchfield is a kind, good man and is the best of bosses,” said Barnett, who was Litchfield’s assistant and chief criminal deputy. “He gave you a job and let you do it, and he wouldn’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do himself."​ Barnett found Litchfield to be more of a law enforcement man than a politician. On several occasions, according to Barnett, Litchfield said that if "you do the right thing, the politics will take care of the rest".<ref name=death/>​

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Silas M. Geralds, who retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2004 after thirty-seven years of service, said that Litchfield treated everyone equally and with respect. “He demands respect and he gives respect,” said Geralds, who retired as a lieutenant colonel. “If it wasn’t for the sheriff, we (the office) wouldn’t be as forward and advanced as we are today."​<ref name=death/>

Silas M. Geralds, who retired from the sheriff’s office in 2004 after thirty-seven years of service, said that Litchfield treated everyone equally and with respect. “He demands respect and he gives respect,” said Geralds, who retired as a lieutenant colonel. “If it wasn’t for the sheriff, we (the office) wouldn’t be as forward and advanced as we are today."​<ref name=death/>

==Death and family==

==Death and family==