CHIEF OF POLICE - ARTHUR S. LAWSON, JR.

Chief Lawson

Arthur S. Lawson, Jr. is presently Chief of Police of the City of Gretna Police Department. Born in New Orleans in 1954, he was employed by the City of Gretna Police Department on November 1, 1975; where he started as a patrolman, working his way through the ranks to his present position.

Chief Lawson served as an Assistant Watch Commander in the Patrol Division. He was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, serving as Watch Commander in the Patrol Division until being transferred to form and head the Department's Community Relations Division. There he formulated the City of Gretna Neighborhood Watch Program, Student Assistance Program, as well as many other community-oriented programs. Chief Lawson next became Operations Officer, which was then, the second highest position within the Department. This position was later changed to Deputy Chief, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Department.

Chief Lawson graduated from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Basic Training Academy as well as many other law enforcement training courses. These included programs sponsored by the United States Department of Justice, Louisiana State University, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute, and the University of North Florida's Institute of Police Technology and Management. On April 7, 1991, Deputy Chief Lawson was assigned to the FBI National Academy for three months where he graduated with a Criminal Justice Certificate Awarded by the University of Virginia.

Chief Arthur S. Lawson, Jr. was elected February 11, 2005 as Chief of Police for the City of Gretna.