It has been a little over six months since Bossier Parish installed it's first new sheriff in more than two decades.

Sheriff Julian Whittington is making his mark on the department.

"One of the first things I had to do people told me they want to do when I got elected was get a handle on our budget," said Sheriff Whittington.

His first executive decision was cutting the salaries of 47 top ranking deputies. Those cuts saved the department $1.4 million in operating costs.

Sheriff Whittington also eliminated the privilege of take home vehices for staff members like secretaries and accountants not directly connected to patrols.

Since he's been in office, the prison population has expanded, as well as the budget, due to the closing of the Forcht Wade Substance Abuse Program.

He has added to the department as well after Forcht Wade closing.

Bossier Parish also saw a decrease in crime in 2012.

The parish recorded zero homicides, only 2 rapes and crimes people decreased by 5%.

Now the departement is targeting school security in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, tragedy.

"We're working on trying to find a way to put SROs (Student Resource Officers) in the remaining elementary schools so that's probably the hottest thing we have on our plate right now," said Whittington.