The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office was created in 1840. The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer and ex-officio tax collector in the parish, which covers 1,086 square miles. A 44 mile stretch of Interstate 10 traverses the parish from its east boundary to its west boundary at the Texas state line. There are over 183,000 citizens in the parish. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office administration building as well as the Calcasieu Correctional Center, Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison, Calcasieu Parish Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Southwest Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory are located in Lake Charles. There are 10 Law Enforcement Centers strategically placed throughout the parish.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office currently employs 728 full time employees, 52 part-time employees, 90 reserve deputies and 100 school crossing guards. There are several divisions and units of the sheriff's office which include, Patrol, Investigations, Narcotics, Vice, Corrections, Warrants, Civil, Special Services, Marine, Aviation, Forensic Investigation, Evidence, Crime Lab, Photographic Services, ACT-Team, K-9, Communications, School Resource Officers, Airport Security and Farm. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office also provides bailiffs and security for the 14th Judicial District Court.