[StBernard] Louisiana State Police promote Carl Saizan Jr. to commander of Troop B

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana State Police promote Carl Saizan Jr. to commander of Troop B
By Michelle Hunter, The Times-Picayune 
December 27, 2009, 9:00AM

Capt. Carl Saizan Jr.'s ultimate goal in life was to be a State Police
trooper. Anything after that, he said, would be lagniappe.

But the latest accolade in his 19-year career with the department qualifies
as more than a little something extra: a promotion to commander of Troop B.

"I never imagined myself sitting in this chair," said Saizan Monday morning
in his office at the troop's Kenner headquarters.

Saizan advanced from his position as executive officer on Aug. 31 after the
previous commander, Kenneth Curlee, was promoted to major and moved to the
department's Baton Rouge office.

Former shift lieutenant Danny Franklin was promoted to second-in-command at
the troop, which is responsible for patrolling almost 4,200 miles of highway
in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and the east
bank of St. John parishes.

Saizan was born and raised in St. Bernard Parish. He graduated from
Chalmette High School in 1983 then joined the U.S. Army Reserve.

Saizan said his father inspired his decision to enter law enforcement.

"My father was a New Orleans police officer for 22 years. For me it was a
natural choice," he said.

Saizan started with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office as a
corrections officer in November 1983. A year later, he joined the St.
Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, where he worked corrections, moved over to
the traffic and became commander of the special response team - the group
that later evolved into today's SWAT team.

Saizan joined the State Police in 1990. By then, he'd also left the Army
Reserve for the U.S. Coast Guard's Reserve forces. 

Assigned to State Police's Troop B, Saizan worked regular highway patrol
until 1994, when he was moved to the department's criminal patrols division.


"Our main function was to look for wanted criminals, drugs, money, stolen
cars, things of that nature," he said.

In 1995, Saizan was named Trooper of the Year for his participation in the
unit. Saizan also joined the State Police SWAT team. After a promotion to
sergeant, he helped re-establish the agency's motorcycle division, which had
been disbanded in the late 1980s. 

He was appointed executive officer in 2007.

Saizan has been married to Stephanie Chatelain for 24 years. They have four
daughters, one son, and another little one due in May. 

Saizan has taken command of one of the State Police's biggest and busiest
troops. But he's spent his entire career as part of Troop B and now has the
opportunity to lead it. 

"For me, it was truly a blessing to get this position," he said.