Ann Huff

(225) 222-4413 Ext 228

Criminal Divison

Joe Chaney

Detective Chaney was born and raised in St. Helena Parish where he attended St.Helena high school and graduated from paramedic training Baton Rouge and Bonner Campbell College in Mississippi.

Chief Joe Chaney joined the St.Helena Sheriff’s office in 1985 where he began his career as dispatcher. He was later promoted to the position of deputy sheriff where he worked as patrol deputy. He was later promoted to and placed in charge of the juvenile office. Since that time he has worked in every division and almost every unit of the department including crime prevention, communication, juvenile, and jailer.

Detective Chaney has extensive experience in all aspects of police investigation.

 Detective Chaney had been married 30 years and has one child and one grandson.

. Certified police officer- state of Louisiana
L.S.U Basic Academy

. Certified Doppler radar operator

Chester Pritchett

Chester Pritchett started in law enforcement in Tangipahoa Parish under Sheriff Frank M.Edwards, Jr. where he was a uniformed officer, jailer, dispatcher and under-cover narcotics agent and chief of narcotics. Following his tenure with Edwards, Pritchett spent five years in the private sector before returning to law enforcement under Sheriff J. Edward Layrisson as a part-time investigator. Over the next seven years he worked his way through the ranks as a detective, detective sergeant, lieutenant, captain and chief of detectives. In 1996 he was promoted to one of three majors in the 300 man department and in 2002 completed ten years as the chief of detectives. 

Next,Pritchett was tapped to build a Work Release Program for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. As Warden he wrote the project proposal that was approved by D.O.C. for a fifty man program.

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 The program thrived into a seventy-five inmate unit generating more than $500,000.00 per year for the sheriff’f office and allowing inmates to pay court ordered restitution to victims and child support.

In 2004 Pritchett retired and moved back to St.Helena Parish. In July, 2008 Sheriff Nat Williams of St. Helena Parish hired Pritchett as his Chief Deputy and on March 1, 2009 Pritchett celebrated 27 years in law enforcement.

225-222-4413

Gary Cannon

Gary was born & raised in Jefferson Parish until 1979, when he met his wife & moved to St. Helena.

He is married & has a son and a daughter in law. He worked in the refineries for 23 years until he joined & graduated from the St. Helena Reservses in 2002. Gary was then hired in the jail in 2003. While working, Gary continued his education by attending the LSU Basic Training Academy. He graduated Post Academy in 2003 & was promoted to Road Patrol. Gary attended LSU again for the NCIC for Investigators & Uniform Patrol, in which, he graduated in 2004.

Cannon was then promoted to Sergeant in 2005 & Road Division Shift Supervisor in 2006. 

225-222-4413 ext 253 

In 2008, Gary graduated Homicide Investigations & was promoted to his current position, Detective, in 2009. 

Sheila Hookfin

Sheila was born and raised in St. Helena Parish where she attended St. Helena Parish High School.  She graduated from Legal Secretary training at Delta College in Baton Rouge, LA.

Detective Hookfin joined the St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office in April of 2000,where her career started as a dispatcher.  She was later promoted to the Patrol Division as a Deputy Sheriff. Sheila furthered her training at LSU Basic Training Academy in September of 2001 and was promoted to Uniform Patrol at that time.  In 2003 she was promoted to Sergeant of Uniform Patrol.

Sheila attended LSU Juvenile School from which she graduated and worked as a Juvenile Officer, D.A.R.E. Officer, School Resource Officer, and F.I.N.S. Officer.  She received additional training from Pineville (D.A.R.E. Instructor/SRO [School Resource Officer]) in Alexandria, LA.

When she attended training at L.S.U. Training Center, she was instructed in Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Victim Assistance, plus others.  This continued her education as is offered for Law Enforcement.

Sheila graduated from Homicide Investigations and was promoted to the Detective’s Division in December 2008 in Gonzales, LA.

 Email address:

225-222-4416 ext 246