By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Why does Brian Nicaud believe he is the best candidate to be elected the next police chief for the city of Slidell?
“I have done every job for the Slidell Police Department that is there, from mopping floors to heading the fleet department, to criminal investigations and in patrol,” he said. “I am the most experienced, most tested and most loyal person to this police department and that’s why I would be the best chief of police.”
Nicaud announced plans to qualify in February for the May 16 election, now a vacant position after former Chief Randy Fandal was elected Slidell mayor. To date, the only other candidate who has announced for the job is another Slidell police officer, Tommy Williams. Current Interim Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau said he has no plans to run.
Nicaud started with the Slidell Police Department back in 1990, starting in patrol, which was then followed by a stint in most of the departments, including time managing the fleet unit, criminal investigations, teaching the DARE program and working as a crime prevention officer. Even after retiring in 2016, he continued to serve as a reserve officer and school resource officer in a part-time capacity.
Nicaud began to consider the idea of chief many years ago since he believes his broad range of experience makes him best suited to lead the department.
“I can do it all,” he said. “I love this community, the culture, the diversity and honestly believe my training in so many areas of this department makes me the better man for the job.”
Nicaud, age 61, teamed up with one of the most popular former SPD officers in his early years, joining Sgt. Rob Callahan in the DARE program, and then getting appointed by Callahan to run the fleet operation. Callahan was a much-beloved Slidell officer who many believed would be the chief one day, however, he passed away in his 30s after complications from a knee operation.
Nicaud said he and Callahan were “best friends, and Rob encouraged me to think about chief one day,” he remarked. “I learned so much from him about community policing and that’s one reason I know I would be good in this job.
“Community policing is so critical for Slidell or any community. It connects our officers to the people, and if I am elected, that will be a big priority for me,” he added.
Nicaud had 35 years with the department before he retired in 2016, but still served as a reserve officer and school resource officer up until 2025. He points to a list of over 50 certifications and community service roles he has been involved with over the years as yet another reason he believes he is most qualified.
His wife Leslie backed her husband by stating, “Brian has done jobs nobody else would do, and it was always for the betterment of Slidell and the police department. For him to be chief is really who he is with the experience he has had.”
Looking at the police department currently, Nicaud said his top priorities would be to increase training for all officers, and bring back the national Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) certification that the SPD had for 30 years, before Fandal decided to drop it. He acknowledges the good work of the force currently as he said public safety is “above average for Slidell, and something we will keep working to retain.”
Nicaud was heavily involved in the early years when the SPD sought the CALEA accreditation and he believes it is important to have that kind of certification when lawsuits come along, as they do for every law enforcement agency.
He also plans to focus on seniors and local youth, planning a new program that would offer teens a chance to take part in the program rather than go to jail.
“I would personally teach that program since I have a lot of experience with juvenile offenders,” he said. “We will offer them work rather than being locked up.”
Nicaud started his career in patrol, then worked as a criminal investigator and juvenile detective. After being appointed manager of the Fleet and Facilities department, he said he saved the department over $1 million with “responsible management, smart purchasing and responsible oversight, saving taxpayer money while ensuring officers had safe and reliable equipment.”
“Because I’ve worked everywhere I’m known as someone who listens, works alongside officers and puts the community first,” he said. “I’ve never shied away from responsibility. I’m not a career politician, I’m a career public servant who understands the streets of Slidell, and the inner workings of the police department, as well as the responsibility that comes with leading it.”
Nicaud said that after retiring in 2016 he and his wife were considering a move to Mississippi, but after seeing Williams as the only announced candidate, and a dream he believes came from God, he felt compelled to enter the race.
“I dreamed that I was sitting behind the chief’s desk. I knew that Tommy was the only one running and I don’t think anyone should run unopposed, so I felt the dream was confirmation I needed to run, an idea I had never given up on,” he explained.
Through his work with DARE, Callahan and as a patrol officer, it is clear that community policing is important to Nicaud.
“We will hold more police events with the public, and ride through the neighborhoods more,” he added. “I plan to increase the number of officers on the streets, not by hiring more, but restructuring the force in a way to get more officers out in the public.”
Nicaud said he has already been going door-to-door to talk to the public about his candidacy, as well as going to churches and using Social Media to get the word out.
“Nobody will outwork me,” he said. “In my years here, I have worked everything there is in this department and that history taught me how to be the top cop.
“To me, chief is just a title, but it really means being a servant,” he added. “That’s what I offer the people of Slidell I’m get elected.”
Comments are closed.