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'''Larkin Theodore Riser, Jr.''', known as '''Ted Riser''' (born March 3, 1949), is a former [[sheriff]] of Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. He served two terms as [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from 1996 to 2004 but at some point after leaving office, he switched to [[Republican Party|Republican]] affiliation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3405671|title=Larkin Riser 71073, March 1949|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref>​

'''Larkin Theodore Riser, Jr.''', known as '''Ted Riser''' (born March 3, 1949), is a former [[sheriff]] of Webster Parish in northwestern [[Louisiana]]. He served two terms as [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from 1996 to 2004 but at some point after leaving office, he switched to [[Republican Party|Republican]] affiliation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3405671|title=Larkin Riser 71073, March 1949|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}</ref>​

 

==Background==

==Background==

Riser and his wife, the former Gloria Butler (born February 1952), also known as Jan B. Riser, have a son, Larkin T. Riser, III (born January 1985) of Bossier City.

Riser and his wife, the former Gloria Butler (born February 1952), also known as Jan B. Riser, have a son, Larkin T. Riser, III (born January 1985) of Bossier City.

Jan Riser is one of two children and the only daughter of Joe Butler (1924-2013), a former mayor of Dubberly in south Webster Parish, and his wife, the former Elsie Brunson (born June 1933).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ShreveportTimes/obituary.aspx?pid=167056484|title=Joe Butler obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

Jan Riser is one of two children and the only daughter of Joe Butler (1924-2013), a former mayor of Dubberly in south Webster Parish, and his wife, the former Elsie Brunson (born June 1933).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ShreveportTimes/obituary.aspx?pid=167056484|title=Joe Butler obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

Riser is one of three principals in the Louisiana Law Hunting Club, Inc., which was established in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizapedia.com/la/LA-LAW-HUNTING-CLUB-INC.html|title=Louisiana Law Hunting Club, Inc.|publisher=bizapedia.com|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

Riser is one of three principals in the Louisiana Law Hunting Club, Inc., which was established in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizapedia.com/la/LA-LAW-HUNTING-CLUB-INC.html|title=Louisiana Law Hunting Club, Inc.|publisher=bizapedia.com|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

 

==Political life==

==Political life==

 

​Riser resigned after twenty-one years with the state police to run for sheriff. He based much of his campaign on the restructuring of the parish jail and penal farm to halt recurring jailbreaks. He also focused on crimes against elderly citizens and a sound law-enforcement agenda to encourage the location of business and industry into Webster Parish.<ref name=riserrunsforsheriff>"Riser resigns to seek office of sheriff", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 7, 1995, pp. 1, 3.</ref>On October 21, 1995, he won the two-candidate [[primary]] election to succeed the retiring Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], a Democrat and a [[veterinarian]] from Springhill in northern Webster Parish near the [[Arkansas]] border. He defeated fellow Democrat and McMahen's chief deputy, Thomas Dale "Tommy" Kemp, Sr. (born August 1941), known as "The Singing Deputy" because of his talent in [[gospel music|gospel]] and country music.<ref>"Singing deputy will entertain at banquet", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 24, 1975, p. 1</ref> Riser polled 7,935 votes (53.7 percent) to Kemp's 6,848 (46.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10211995/10211995_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/21/1995 Webster Parish|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald, October 23, 1995, p. 1.</ref> The sheriff collects [[property tax]]es, enforces criminal law in the parish outside of the  municipalities, and with his staff of deputies is recognized as the most powerful political officer in the parish.​

Riser resigned after twenty-one years with the state police to run for sheriff. He based much of his campaign on the restructuring of the parish jail and penal farm to halt recurring jailbreaks. He also focused on crimes against elderly citizens and a sound law-enforcement agenda to encourage the location of business and industry into Webster Parish.<ref name=riserrunsforsheriff>"Riser resigns to seek office of sheriff", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 7, 1995, pp. 1, 3.</ref>On October 21, 1995, he won the two-candidate [[primary]] election to succeed the retiring Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], a Democrat and a [[veterinarian]] from Springhill in northern Webster Parish near the [[Arkansas]] border. He defeated fellow Democrat and McMahen's chief deputy, Thomas Dale "Tommy" Kemp, Sr. (born August 1941), known as "The Singing Deputy" because of his talent in [[gospel music|gospel]] and country music.<ref>"Singing deputy will entertain at banquet", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 24, 1975, p. 1</ref> Riser polled 7,935 votes (53.7 percent) to Kemp's 6,848 (46.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10211995/10211995_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/21/1995 Webster Parish|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>''Minden Press-Herald, October 23, 1995, p. 1.</ref> The sheriff collects [[property tax]]es, enforces criminal law in the parish outside of the  municipalities, and with his staff of deputies is recognized as the most powerful political officer in the parish.​

   

   

Riser attributed his victory to [[God]]: "We fought a good fight, and Mr. Kemp fought a good fight. He was a very formidable opponent, and I feel like it was one of the cleanest races in the state." Kemp, who came to speak at Riser's victory rally, had thirty years experience in law enforcement at the time of his defeat.<ref>"Riser wins Sheriff's race:, ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 23, 1995, p. 1.</ref> He sworn into office in a ceremony at the Minden Civic Center on July 1, 1996. Judge Scott Crichton, a Minden native who was later elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, administered the oath.<ref>"Riser sworn in as WP sheriff", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 2, 1996, p. 1.</ref>​

Riser attributed his victory to [[God]]: "We fought a good fight, and Mr. Kemp fought a good fight. He was a very formidable opponent, and I feel like it was one of the cleanest races in the state." Kemp, who came to speak at Riser's victory rally, had thirty years experience in law enforcement at the time of his defeat.<ref>"Riser wins Sheriff's race:, ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 23, 1995, p. 1.</ref> He sworn into office in a ceremony at the Minden Civic Center on July 1, 1996. Judge Scott Crichton, a Minden native who was later elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, administered the oath.<ref>"Riser sworn in as WP sheriff", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 2, 1996, p. 1.</ref>​

Under Riser, a new $7.3 million state-of-the-art prison, the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center, named for Dorcheat Bayou and located within the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, or Camp Minden, west of Minden, was constructed to house up to 340 prisoners. Because the land on which the center lies is formerly United States Army property, Riser depended on then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]], a Louisiana Democrat defeated in 2014 by Republican [[Bill Cassidy]], to break through the federal regulations: "She was a real champion for us. She ... helped us get through everything that had to be done in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=273750645&page_url=//www.press-herald.com/news/0327news.html&page_last_updated=2002-03-28T09:42:40&firstName=Ted&lastName=Riser|title=Dorcheat Center Ready at Last|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Josh Beavers|date=March 28, 2002|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

Under Riser, a new $7.3 million state-of-the-art prison, the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center, named for Dorcheat Bayou and located within the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, or Camp Minden, west of Minden, was constructed to house up to 340 prisoners. Because the land on which the center lies is formerly United States Army property, Riser depended on then [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]], a Louisiana Democrat defeated in 2014 by Republican [[Bill Cassidy]], to break through the federal regulations: "She was a real champion for us. She ... helped us get through everything that had to be done in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=273750645&page_url=//www.press-herald.com/news/0327news.html&page_last_updated=2002-03-28T09:42:40&firstName=Ted&lastName=Riser|title=Dorcheat Center Ready at Last|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Josh Beavers|date=March 28, 2002|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

 

In 2003, Riser was handily unseated by his fellow Democrat and former deputy, Gary Steven Sexton<ref>KTBS-TV, October 21, 2003.</ref> (born April 1953) of Shongaloo in central Webster Parish. Sexton received 8,610 votes (64.2 percent) to Riser's 4,814 (35.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/4/2003: Webster Parish|publisher=stateicresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​ After four terms, Sexton will step down as sheriff in July 2020.

In 2003, Riser was handily unseated by his fellow Democrat and former deputy, Gary Steven Sexton<ref>KTBS-TV, October 21, 2003.</ref> (born April 1953) of Shongaloo in central Webster Parish. Sexton received 8,610 votes (64.2 percent) to Riser's 4,814 (35.9 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_60.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/4/2003: Webster Parish|publisher=stateicresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​ After four terms, Sexton will step down as sheriff in July 2020.

In 2009, Riser was hired as a part-time deputy by Sheriff Charles Mahier McDonald, Jr. (born December 1954), a Democrat from Richland Parish in northeastern Louisiana]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domino.ethics.state.la.us/EthicRu2.nsf/ecfd553acd8f6446862567f9006e60b6/57a4f99d627cbbbd862574f200550737?OpenDocument|title=Larkin T. "Ted" Riser, Jr.: Ethics Board Docket No. 2008-658|publisher=domino.ethics.state.la.us|date=October 30, 2008|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref> based in Rayville, ninety-six miles from Riser's home in Sibley. In March 2012, then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] reappointed Riser as an at-large member of the board of directors of the Correctional Facilities Corporation Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=3353|title=Governor Bobby Jindal Announces the Reappointments to the Correctional Facilities Corporation Board of Directors​

In 2009, Riser was hired as a part-time deputy by Sheriff Charles Mahier McDonald, Jr. (born December 1954), a Democrat from Richland Parish in northeastern Louisiana]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://domino.ethics.state.la.us/EthicRu2.nsf/ecfd553acd8f6446862567f9006e60b6/57a4f99d627cbbbd862574f200550737?OpenDocument|title=Larkin T. "Ted" Riser, Jr.: Ethics Board Docket No. 2008-658|publisher=domino.ethics.state.la.us|date=October 30, 2008|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref> based in Rayville, ninety-six miles from Riser's home in Sibley. In March 2012, then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] reappointed Riser as an at-large member of the board of directors of the Correctional Facilities Corporation Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=3353|title=Governor Bobby Jindal Announces the Reappointments to the Correctional Facilities Corporation Board of Directors​

|date=March 22, 2012|publisher=gov.louisiana.gov|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref> Established by the legislature in 1985 to build and equip prisons for lease to the state, the corporation raises funds through revenue bonds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/person?personId=38045906&targetid=profile|title=Riser named to board of prison corporation|publisher=zoominfo.com|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

|date=March 22, 2012|publisher=gov.louisiana.gov|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref> Established by the legislature in 1985 to build and equip prisons for lease to the state, the corporation raises funds through revenue bonds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/person?personId=38045906&targetid=profile|title=Riser named to board of prison corporation|publisher=zoominfo.com|accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref>​

 

==References==

==References==

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