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Gov. Jeff Landry has picked a longtime acquaintance with nearly 30 years of experience working in probation and parole services to run the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, which includes the state prison system.
Gary Westcott grew up in the same neighborhood as the governor and graduated from St. Martinville High School a few years before Landry. The governor first appointed Westcott eight months ago to serve as deputy secretary for the agency.
As the department’s new leader, Westcott replaces Jimmy LeBlanc, who ran the department for four governors over 17 years. LeBlanc announced his retirement last week.
Westcott has extensive experience in parole and probation services, one of the corrections secretary’s main responsibilities along with managing prisons.
He served in the state Division of Probation and Parole for 29 years, retiring in 2020 as a regional administrator who oversaw offices from Lake Charles to New Orleans, according to a press release from the governor’s office. From 2020 to 2024, he also worked at the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office as a warden.