A review of the Schedule of Compensation, Benefits and Other Payments to Agency Head from 2019 through the most recent audit reveals a steady and significant increase in Sheriff Jason Parker’s base salary.
-
2019: $145,761 + benefits
-
2020: $150,597 + benefits
-
2021: No record available with the state
-
2022: $165,977 + benefits
-
2023: $170,830 + benefits
-
2024: $176,808 + benefits
That’s an increase of roughly $40,000—or 21.3%—in just five years. Meanwhile, records indicate that Webster Parish deputies, who risk their lives on the front lines, received only 2–4% annual raises during the same period.
For many in the community, this pay disparity is not just a matter of numbers—it’s a question of leadership priorities. Should the Sheriff’s own salary grow at nearly five times the rate of his deputies’ raises?
The growing gap between top leadership compensation and frontline pay raises concerns about morale, retention, and fairness. Residents and deputies alike may be asking: Is the focus on rewarding leadership—or supporting those doing the hardest work?
With rising crime concerns and increasing demands on deputies, Webster Parish taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability on how salaries are set, and why such disparities exist.
