Public safety, neighborhood patrols, officer accountability, and community trust are among the leading issues identified by three candidates seeking to become Minden’s next chief of police.
Incumbent Chief Jared McIver and challengers Ryan Barnette and Tim Morris responded to a Minden Press-Herald questionnaire ahead of the November 3 election, outlining their approaches to department leadership, crime prevention, officer recruitment and retention, and relations with the public.
All three candidates emphasized accountability, professional training, and public trust, although their responses revealed different priorities for the department’s future.
Candidates were asked about Minden’s most significant public safety challenges, their plans for the first year in office, officer morale, departmental transparency, technology, cooperation with other agencies, and how the public should evaluate the department’s performance.
Ryan Barnette
Challenger Ryan Barnette identified neighborhood patrol visibility as one of Minden’s most significant public safety concerns.
Barnette said he believes officers have become less visible in residential neighborhoods while maintaining a substantial presence along Interstate 20.
“The patrol division is the backbone of the department,” Barnette wrote.
He said increasing patrol visibility in neighborhoods would help deter traffic violations, property crimes, and violent offenses.
If elected, Barnette plans to begin with a review of departmental policies and procedures to ensure they are clear, practical, legally sound, and consistently enforced.
He also proposed establishing a Citizens Academy to help residents better understand law enforcement operations, including criminal law, traffic stops, evidence collection, and use-of-force policies.
Barnette placed particular emphasis on officer morale, saying it directly affects the department’s ability to recruit and retain employees.
He said officers should be treated fairly, evaluated on performance, and held to consistent standards rather than being affected by favoritism or personality conflicts.
“Leaders eat last,” Barnette wrote, describing his approach to departmental leadership.
One of his most specific proposals is the creation of an Officer Accountability Review Panel consisting of four officers selected by their peers and the police chief.
Under the proposal, the panel would review complaints involving officers and provide input on possible disciplinary recommendations to the City Council.
Barnette said the arrangement would allow officers and supervisors to contribute to the accountability process without fear that their recommendations would negatively affect their standing within the department.
He also emphasized continued professional training beyond minimum state requirements, with equipment purchases focused primarily on officer and public safety.
Barnette said he would maintain cooperative relationships with surrounding law enforcement agencies, schools, prosecutors, and other organizations.
When evaluating departmental success, Barnette said he would look beyond crime statistics to employee retention, professional development, and whether officers feel supported and held accountable.
He cited his law enforcement experience and the leadership examples he has encountered throughout his career as preparation for the position.
Barnette said his approach to leadership is built around three principles: strength, respect, and accountability.
He emphasized that the police chief’s office belongs to the citizens who entrust someone with the responsibility of serving them.
Jared McIver
Incumbent Chief Jared McIver identified proactive crime prevention and responding to neighborhood safety concerns as major priorities for the Minden Police Department.
McIver said property crime, drug-related activity, traffic safety, and preventing serious offenses require continued attention. His approach combines law enforcement with community involvement, cooperation with neighboring agencies, and the use of crime data to determine where resources are needed.
“Public safety is a shared responsibility involving law enforcement, families, schools, businesses, and community organizations,” McIver wrote.
If reelected, McIver said his first-year priorities would include mental health awareness, youth mentorship programs, and establishing a chaplain program to serve officers, department employees and residents.
He also plans to continue emphasizing crime prevention, traffic safety, recruitment, officer training, and employee morale.
McIver said the department must maintain high standards for hiring and retention while providing officers with professional development opportunities. He identified de-escalation, crisis intervention, leadership, and community relations as important areas for continued training.
Regarding allegations of officer misconduct, McIver said complaints should be documented and investigated thoroughly and impartially, with due process provided to employees and information shared with the public to the extent permitted by law.
“Investigations must be impartial, thorough, and based on evidence, with policies and procedures followed throughout the process,” he wrote.
McIver said department performance should be evaluated through crime trends, response times, case clearance rates, traffic safety, and crime prevention efforts, rather than arrests and citations alone.
He reported that calls involving shots fired have decreased by 50% since he took office in 2023. He also reported decreases in gang-related violence, disturbances, and theft reports, along with the removal of more than 100 firearms from the streets.
Among the accomplishments McIver cited during his tenure were providing take-home vehicles and laptops for officers, increasing training opportunities, adding another school resource officer at Minden High School, installing license plate recognition cameras, and establishing a Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Division.
He also noted that the department has become compliant with the National Incident-Based Reporting System and Louisiana Incident-Based Reporting System since he took office.
McIver said he intends to continue working with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Webster Parish School Board, and other agencies on school safety, drug enforcement, and community concerns.
His goal, he said, is to continue strengthening public trust while providing officers with the resources and leadership necessary to serve the community.
Tim Morris
Challenger Tim Morris emphasized leadership accountability, transparency, and a stronger police presence in Minden neighborhoods.
Morris, who served 30 years with the Minden Police Department, said his experience includes patrol, SWAT, investigations, warrants, and administration.
He identified accountability among department leadership as a significant public safety concern, saying those in positions of authority must follow the law and set an example for employees and residents.
Morris said his first-year priorities would include establishing clear departmental policies, strengthening accountability and rebuilding public trust.
He also called for more visible patrols throughout the city, with supervisors and officers receiving clearly defined daily assignments.
“Our campaign mission is having a more visible department,” Morris wrote.
He said increased neighborhood patrols would improve public safety while allowing residents to see officers actively working in their communities.
Regarding recruitment, retention, and morale, Morris advocated clear expectations, consistent treatment of employees and ongoing training.
He said officers should receive the guidance, equipment, and professional development necessary to perform their duties effectively.
Morris also emphasized transparency when complaints or allegations involving officers arise.
He said he would answer public concerns while protecting the integrity of investigations and releasing information to the extent permitted by law.
On technology, Morris said the department should work with city leadership to evaluate tools that could assist investigations while protecting residents’ privacy.
He also stressed continued cooperation with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, and other agencies through information sharing and coordinated resources.
Morris said he would evaluate departmental performance partly by whether residents notice increased patrol visibility and improvements in public safety.
He also raised concerns about the department’s internal working environment, citing audio recordings he alleged contained threats between officers and expressing concern about the departure of experienced personnel.
Morris said restoring confidence within the department and among residents would be central to his leadership.
Election approaches
The three candidates offered different approaches to managing the Minden Police Department, but each identified public confidence, officer professionalism, and effective law enforcement as important responsibilities of the chief’s office.
Barnette focused on neighborhood patrols, employee morale, and a proposed officer review panel. McIver emphasized continuing departmental improvements, expanding community programs, and building on initiatives undertaken during his current term. Morris emphasized greater patrol visibility, leadership accountability, and changes to the department’s internal operations.
The candidates’ responses reflect their own statements and proposals. Claims about departmental performance, internal conditions, and reported incidents have not been independently verified for this article.
The November 3 election will determine who leads the Minden Police Department for the next term.