APR•St TAMMANY has received a direct statement from Courtney Candies, widow of fallen St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Grant Candies, confirming her support for retired Lieutenant David Maki in the race for St. Tammany Parish Sheriff.
Sgt. Grant Candies was killed in the line of duty while deploying a manual spike strip during a high-speed pursuit. His service and sacrifice continue to be remembered across St. Tammany Parish and throughout Louisiana law enforcement.
His name is also attached to HB 511, Act 809 of 2026, known as the Sergeant Grant Candies Officer Safety Act. The law creates the Law Enforcement Pursuit Safety and Technology Grant Program, aimed at helping agencies obtain training and technology to reduce risk during pursuits.
In her statement, Courtney Candies said she believes the Sheriff’s Office needs change, accountability, and leadership that supports the men and women serving the parish.
She described concerns about the culture within the agency, including what she believes has been fear, retaliation, selective accountability, and a lack of respect for deputies under past and current leadership.
Courtney Candies also spoke about her late husband’s experience within the department, saying Grant was targeted, punished, and pushed into assignments meant to break him, but continued to serve and succeed.
“We deserve a Sheriff’s Office that treats its deputies with respect, follows its own policies, and serves the community rather than the egos of those in charge,” Candies wrote.
According to the information provided directly to APR, Courtney Candies and the family of Sgt. Grant Candies are formally supporting retired Lieutenant David Maki for Sheriff.
Maki’s announcement states that his campaign is focused on reform, integrity, and restored support for the men and women of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
APR will continue following the Sheriff’s race, the candidates, their platforms, and the issues being raised by families, deputies, and members of the public.