History will be made when Henry Whitehorn is sworn in as sheriff of Caddo Parish

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Henry Whitehorn is set to be sworn in as Caddo Parish sheriff after winning favor with the Shreveport community in three separate vote counts.

Whitehorn has more than a decade of law enforcement experience and served as the city's chief administrative officer.

Henry Whitehorn's career timeline:

Henry Whitehorn began his career in the military civil service in 1973.

After four years of active duty with last duty station at Barksdale Air Force Base, his first law enforcement job was with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 1977.

In 1978, he joined the Louisiana State Police and was assigned to Troop G in Bossier City. While assigned to Troop G, Whitehorn served as a patrol officer, narcotics officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and executive officer. He then served as Troop G Commander from 1996 to 1998.

Whitehorn was promoted in 1998 to the rank of major while serving as the command inspector for Region 3 in Alexandria.

His rank was promoted again in 2000 to Lieutenant Colonel as Deputy Superintendent of the LSP.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed Whitehorn as LSP Superintendent in 2004. While LSP Superintendent, he coordinated law enforcement response teams during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In 2007, former Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover appointed Whitehorn as Shreveport's first African-American police chief. Whitehorn served in that position for about three years before President Obama appointed him United States Marshal for the Western District of Louisiana.

Whitehorn retired from federal office on Jan. 31, 2020.

“I have been truly fortunate to serve our nation as a United States Marshal and am extremely proud of the District’s accomplishments over the past nine years.“

Henry Whitehorn after his retirement from federal service

His retirement did not last long. Four months later, the Shreveport City Council confirmed Whitehorn as chief administrative officer, and he served in the Perkins administration.

Whitehorn's confirmation as CAO was not without its challenges. At the time, former Mayor Adrian Perkins called Councillor John Nickelson to object to Whithorn's CAO confirmation.

Whitehorn announced he is running for Caddo Parish sheriff in June 2023.

According to an Associated Press report, more than 43,000 people voted in the November 18, 2024 runoff election.

After entering a runoff election, Whitehorn was elected sheriff-elect by one vote.

Opponent John Nickelson filed a lawsuit to challenge the election results. After a recount and a special election, Whitehorn was elected sheriff of Caddo Parish.

Whitehorn will be the first African-American sheriff of Caddo Parish.

Watch the swearing-in ceremony live on Monday, July 1; coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. on KTALnews.com.