Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office

odomgraves Odom Graves-Sheriff
Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office
1976~1996

Odom Graves started with the sheriff's office in 1950s and his law enforcement career spanned a period of forty years from April 1956 until June of 1996, and included five terms as Sheriff (1976-1996).

People who worked with Odom Graves credited him with "modernizing" the Sheriff's Office to meet the needs of the growing parish. When Odom Graves retired in 1996, the office had 140 employees and was organized into divisions, such as operations and taxes.

waynesanders Wayne Sanders, Chief of Operations
Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office
September 23, 1942 ~ October 3, 1999

Wayne Sanders began his law enforcement career August 1, 1964, as a uniform patrol deputy. On January 1, 1974, he was promoted to Chief of Detectives of the first Detective Division of the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office. He served in that capacity until October 1, 1982, at which time he stepped into the new administrative position of Chief of Operations, a position that would entail overseeing the daily operations of civil, criminal and correctional entities of the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office.

Wayne attended numerous law enforcement training schools sponsored by federal, state and local agencies, and was a graduate of the 36th Session of the Louisiana State University Law Enforcement Institute. He had a certification from the Louisiana Peace Officers Standards and Training Council as a post certified instructor, and was a member of the specialized Louisiana Sheriff's Task Force. During 1982 he served as an instructor on security for our local banking institutions. By 1982 he was conducting law enforcement seminars and classes for other law enforcement agencies, and during the winter of 1987, Wayne participated as an instructor at the 91st Session of the LSU Basic Training Academy.

Wayne Sanders was well known in the law enforcement community, not only in Louisiana but surrounding states as well. His involvement with the 911 Committee, the Capitol District Law Enforcement Commission, and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (R.O.C.I.C.) allowed his vast knowledge of law enforcement to be shared with other agencies throughout Louisiana and the southeastern United States. His absence is felt daily, not only within the Sheriff's Office, but also in the hearts and lives of all who knew him. However, the mark that Wayne made in this office and in this community will remain forever, as well as the memories of the man that was known to all who knew and loved him as simply "Big Daddy."

sandrameyers Sandra Kay Johnson Myers
Prison Nurse
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office
February 23, 1951 ~ January 18, 2002

A dedicated nurse at the Livingston Parish Prison, Sandra Kay Johnson Myers worked diligently to meet the day-to-day health care needs of the prisoners for nearly four years until her tragic death in an automobile accident on January 18, 2002.

Sandra was a great caregiver to those she looked after, both physically and spiritually. She was a woman of great faith, and that faith was evident in the way she conducted her daily life. She was a professional in every manner of speaking, quietly handling her duties with the utmost detail, efficiency and always with compassion and understanding. She had a gentle quality that endeared her to all.

A native of Scotia, California and resident of Walker, Sandra earned her nursing degree from Regents College. In addition to her Sheriff’s Office “family,” she is survived by her husband of 36 years, Dennis Myers, two daughters, a son and six grandchildren. She was an active member of Revival Temple Pentecostal Church. She is greatly and sadly missed by all she worked with and served.