By Crystal Nix
DeQuincy Mayor Riley Smith accepted the resignation of Chief Mike Suchanek, effective Monday, May 1.
Suchanek has served for nearly 25 years as Chief of Police for the City of DeQuincy. He was appointed the position as Chief under five mayors, including the late Buddy Henagan, the late Gary Cooper, Jerry Bell, Lawrence Henagan, and Riley Smith.
He was the longest serving chief of police in Calcasieu Parish.
He was a 1986 graduate of DeQuincy High School, and graduated from McNeese State University in 2005 with an Associate of Criminal Justice degree. He also graduated from the Calcasieu Parish Law Officers Training Academy and attended various law enforcement schools.
He went to work for the DeQuincy Police Department in 1988 and has worked as dispatcher, patrolman, corporal, sergeant, assistant chief, and acting chief.
He was the recipient of the SWLA Bar Association’s 1993 Law Enforcement award and the 1993 DeQuincy Police Department’s Officer of the Year award. He also received the local police department’s lifesaving medal in 1993, an achievement award for police supervision in 1994, and a certificate of recognition in 1995 from the Louisiana Safety Belt Use Coalition. Suchanek has served on Southwest Law Enforcement Planning Council for the past 20 years.
He organized several local police related programs including Kid Care ID, DeCal 1st Squad (with sheriff’s department); Junior Police Program, Cops Fast, and DPC program. He was appointed by the governor to the DARE Advisory Board. He served on an advisory board for the parishwide CAT Drug task force since its inception.
Under his supervision, cameras have been placed in the jail, all police cars have been marked, and officers have been issued body cameras.
He also instituted the take home patrol program for patrolman, secured stop sticks for all patrol cars, and secured bullet proof vests for all patrol officers.
