Lt. Randy Smith generally works 40 hours a week upholding the law for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.

His job usually doesn’t end there, however.

As president of the St. Tammany Deputies’ Association, Smith also spends countless hours helping deputies and their families who have come upon hard times or illness. The organization was established in 1987 with the primary purpose of raising money for members in need, but also to serve the community.

randy smith

“The sheriff at the time was Pat Canulette, and he wanted to sponsor a Christmas dinner for senior citizens,” said Smith. “I think when we started we served about 200 people, and now we’re up to 1,500 or so.”

The organization currently has about 500 members, and Smith has served as president for the last seven years. If a deputy or one of their family members becomes ill, for example, the group will stage various fundraisers, and makes an initial donation of $1,000 to help with expenses. If it is an ongoing need, further funds can be allotted as necessary.

Everything from hunting rifles to cruises has been raffled to raise money for the various projects. Five years ago the association also began a scholarship fund, and distributes $1,000 to two high-school seniors that are children of its members. It also distributes memorial Bibles to family members of fallen deputies. The books are inscribed with the deputy’s name, and about 30 Bibles have been given away since the project started.

Since Hurricane Katrina, more than $60,000 has been raised, about two-thirds of which was granted to 40 members who lost nearly everything in the storm.

“We delivered all these checks about two weeks before Christmas,” said Smith. “That was really a great thing.”

In 2007 the organization hosted a large-scale fundraiser for Deputy Mary Mayo, who was paralyzed after a tree struck by lightening fell on her patrol car during a funeral procession for a colleague. Donations poured in from all over the parish for the event, which was held at the Castine Center and featured four bands.

The group also hosts an annual family picnic and crawfish boil for its members at Fontainebleau Park, complete with spacewalks, volleyball, horseshoes and tug-of-war games. Smith said that tremendous community support helps make such events possible.

Members pay minimal dues of just $2 per paycheck, and have done so since the group’s inception.

“Every now and then someone wants to raise the dues, but we want to keep it affordable,” said Smith.

Smith is excited about a new event coming this fall to the Slidell Auditorium, a wrestling match featuring WWF superstar “Hacksaw” Jim Duggen, as well as Slidell’s own Kevin Northcut, among others. Tickets are $20 for advanced ringside seats, $15 for floor seats, and $10 for general admission. All proceeds will be donated to the association.

The event came about after Gara Ranatza, the group vice president, attended a fight at the Castine Center. He met the fight promoters, who invited him to a similar charity event across the lake, and both Ranatza and Smith were sold.

Smith said he got involved with the association because he wanted to help fellow officers in need, and while planning the events and tracking the distribution of funds takes a lot of resources and man hours. In fact, before the wrestling show even takes place he will be meeting with the committee to plan the Christmas dinner.

While the work never stops, he said he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“I really love this job, and I love working with the deputies’ association,” he said.

Sponsorships are available for the Sept. 18 wrestling show. For more information, call Smith at 768-1112.