Chief Richard’s Bold Career Pivot | Lake Charles News

Lake Charles Louisiana News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 6, 2026 · 1m

After 37 years with the DeRidder Police Department, Chief Craig Richard is stepping into a new chapter—just eight hours after his last day on patrol, he’s now leading emergency preparedness for Beauregard Parish. This isn’t his first career leap: back in 1993, he switched from fire to police just days after graduating high school—a move he’s now repeating at age 60. Public service runs deep in his family, and his journey—from nearly becoming a doctor to finding his calling as a firefighter and then a cop—has been shaped by real-world grit, including his first arrest and the wisdom of his…