Changes

| resting_place=Greenoaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge

| resting_place=Greenoaks Memorial Park in Baton Rouge

| occupation=Law-enforcement officer​<br>

| occupation=Law-enforcement officer​<br>

Served in [[United States Marine Corps]]

| braanch=[[United States Marine Corps]]

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

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

| children=Gary Stephen Litchfield

| children=Gary Stephen Litchfield

Colonel Greg Donald Phares (born May 14, 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/>

Colonel Greg Donald Phares (born May 14, 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/>

Though Phares succeeded Litchfield, his time in office was limited to one year. Like Litchfield, Phares ran as a Republican; he was defeated in the November 17, 2007, [[general election]] by the Democrat Sidney J. "Sid" Gautreaux, III (born March 31, 1949), the then 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.​

Though Phares succeeded Litchfield, his time in office was limited to one year. Like Litchfield, Phares ran as a Republican; he was defeated in the general election runoff held on November 17, 2007, by the Democrat Sidney J. "Sid" Gautreaux, III (born March 31, 1949), the then 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.​

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''.