Former Slidell Interim Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau Announces Run For St. Tammany Sheriff

Seuzeneau Says He Is Seeking The Job Ahead Of The Parish’s November Special Election

Daniel Seuzeneau, the longtime Slidell Police Department spokesman who later served as interim chief, has announced he is running for St. Tammany Parish sheriff. Multiple local media outlets reported the announcement on Tuesday, July 21, as the race continues to take shape ahead of this fall’s special election.

Seuzeneau is a familiar figure in Slidell law enforcement. According to the Slidell Police Department, he was appointed interim chief after Randy Fandal left to become mayor, and previously served as the department’s chief administrative officer. The department says Seuzeneau began his law enforcement career nearly 20 years ago, worked as a patrolman, detective and sergeant, served on an FBI task force, and has also worked as a SWAT hostage and crisis negotiator.

The sheriff’s race opened after former St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith retired effective June 24, 2026. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said Chief Deputy Bret Ibert was appointed interim sheriff and will remain in that role until a special election is held to fill the rest of the term.

That election is scheduled for Nov. 3. The St. Tammany Parish Council approved the special election on June 29, and qualifying is set for Aug. 5 through Aug. 7, according to FOX 8. The Louisiana Secretary of State’s candidate inquiry page also lists Nov. 3, 2026, as an upcoming election date.

Seuzeneau’s public profile in Slidell grew well before his stint as interim chief. The Slidell Police Department credits him with launching what it describes as Louisiana’s first law-enforcement Facebook page in 2010, and says he later became one of the agency’s most visible public faces through local and national media appearances.

Why This Matters In Slidell

For Slidell residents, Seuzeneau’s entry gives the sheriff’s race a candidate with deep ties to the city’s police department and a long public record in local law enforcement. Because the sheriff’s office operates major functions that affect residents across the parish, including patrol, investigations, the jail and regional public safety operations, the outcome of the Nov. 3 election will have direct consequences for Slidell neighborhoods, commuters and businesses. The race also unfolds at a time when public trust and leadership at the sheriff’s office are under close scrutiny following Smith’s resignation.