July 25, 2026
PEARL RIVER, La. — APR•St Tammany believes the Pearl River Police Department made a serious mistake when it removed a longstanding policy requiring employees to resign before running for political office within Pearl River.
PRPD Policy 2.19 previously required an employee seeking office within the department’s jurisdiction to resign before announcing their candidacy. A March 1, 2026 revision approved by Chief Jack Sessions removed that requirement.
The department’s own policy explains why this matters, stating that political activity can create an “actual or perceived conflict of interest” and undermine public confidence in the department.
Consider what happens after the election.
An employee can now campaign to become chief, publicly oppose another candidate, lose the election and then remain employed inside the department being led by the person voters selected instead.
That creates an unnecessary risk for the new chief and the entire chain of command.
The losing candidate could remain in a position to challenge decisions, influence other employees or undermine confidence in the new administration. APR is not alleging that any current candidate has done or intends to do those things. The concern is that PRPD removed a policy specifically designed to prevent such a situation from developing.
The problem also works both ways. Louisiana law gives Pearl River’s elected chief authority over the appointment, promotion, discipline and discharge of police personnel. A new chief could therefore be responsible for making employment decisions affecting the person who just campaigned against him.
That leaves almost every future dispute open to political interpretation.
Was discipline legitimate or retaliation? Is resistance to the chief’s direction an employment disagreement or continued political opposition? Are officers being pressured to choose sides?
A resignation requirement eliminates much of that uncertainty.
It does not prevent an officer from running for chief. It simply requires someone who wants to become the political leader of the department to separate himself from employment within that department before entering the race.
APR•St Tammany believes the previous policy provided an important safeguard for the chief, department employees and the public. Removing it created the very type of actual or perceived conflict PRPD’s own policy continues to warn against.
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