By Rita Shirley LeBleu

Cameron Parish Sheriff Chris Savoie said school bus route time is down and so is the number of applicants that want to work patrol for the Sheriff’s Office.

Savoie and his Patrol Captain Carl Conner spoke to the Cameron Pilot by phone Monday morning to talk about traffic causing a relatively short bus route to take more time in lower and upper Cameron.

The problem was two-fold, according to Savoie. Venture Global did not have enough people checking in workers, plus these workers wanted to fill the spaces near the exit – first – so that they’d be first out after shift.

Now, Venture Global has someone directing parking and is able to clock in workers more efficiently. Bus route times have gone down tremendously, Conner confirmed.

Deputies are also assisting with getting buses across Hwy. 27 in the north portion of the parish near the parking area next to Chesson’s Grocery.

Dealing with traffic increases due to the construction of Venture Global CP2 has been challenging to the community and to the Sheriff’s Office, Savoie admitted.

Traffic violations are up. He has 30 deputies on patrol, and he’s looking for more.

“I can get people to work in corrections, dispatch or the office,” Savoie said., “but not patrol. We’re down five.”

He blamed the lack of applicants partly on the media’s portrayal of law enforcement during the last decade, and he said “not a lot of people want to drive to Cameron to work in this field.”

“I would love for locals to come in and apply,” he said.

Until more patrol officers are hired, Cameron deputies are working overtime. From July 1 to Mar. 20, 2026, overtime pay for the Cameron Sheriff’s Office totals $644,000.