Caddo Parish will have a new sheriff on July 1 of this year.

Steve Prator took the oath of office for sheriff on July 1, 2000. Almost all of the key staff positions in the sheriff's office have been held by individuals for over 25 years. These people can retire with a generous retirement payment.

Here is a run-down of positions that the new sheriff will most likely need to fill within his first two to three years, and maybe much sooner, depending upon who becomes sheriff.

1. Chief civil deputy

2. Chief criminal deputy

3. Chief administration officer

4. Public information officer

5. Chief of internal affairs

6. Director of finance

7. Internal auditor

8. Director of tax collections

9. Court liaison/probation captain

10. Civil division chief

11. Information technology director

12. Patrol captain

13. Chief detective captain

14. Training Academy director/Safety Town captain

15. Caddo Correctional Center (CCC) commander

16. CCC captains (3)

17. CCC mental health and re-entry program director

18. Lieutenants, sergeants and corporals (20)

19. Executive assistant to the sheriff

Additionally, there are eight employees with 30 years or more of service who work in narcotics and other sensitive law enforcement areas that prohibit the release of their positions.

This list may be incomplete, and the persons holding the positions listed were not interviewed with regard to their retirement plans. But what is known is that, collectively, they have worked in the sheriff's office for over 1,000 years.

Bottom line, the new sheriff must make key employment hires a high priority for his initial four-year term.

Additionally, the new sheriff must grapple with filling approximately 80 positions that are currently vacant.