By Lena W. Claybon
It was supposed to be a “meet and greet”, but what unfolded last Tuesday night at Mays Chapel CME Church in Ruston was much more—a wake-up call, a release valve, a cry for change.
Chief Eric Watson, new to the job but not to law enforcement, walked into a room full of people carrying years—maybe decades—of hurt, deep-seated frustration, and fear. with urgent questions about policing practices in Ruston. And to his credit, he didn’t walk out. He listened. He answered. He tried to address their concerns.
But make no mistake: this wasn’t a handshake and smile kind of meeting. Residents didn’t hold back. Story after story poured out—accounts of being mistreated by Ruston police officers, pulled over without cause, yelled at, threatened, charged with “resisting” when all they wanted was clarity.
You could feel the weight in the room—some were angry, some were tired, some just wanted to feel safe. One woman said if an officer tried to pull her over, she wouldn’t stop out of fear. That says something.
Chief Watson spoke honestly. He said things are broken and that change won’t come overnight. He said he’s working on hiring more officers, officers that will do a better job at interacting with the community. He also said he’s bound by civil service rules when it comes to disciplining officers. “Sometimes my hands are tied,” he admitted.
That wasn’t easy for some to hear. They want justice, now. They want change, now.
As Watson, a 25-year law enforcement veteran with experience in both the Ruston Police Department and the DEA, laid out his goals for the department, including hiring more officers, increasing community engagement, and rebuilding trust, his message was frequently interrupted by citizens who raised serious concerns about past and present experiences with the police force.
Watson acknowledged those concerns but also defended his officers’ need to act quickly and cautiously—especially in a city that sees frequent vehicle burglaries. “That’s called aggressive traffic enforcement, and I’m not going to apologize for it,” he said.
Pastor Terence Flucas, who’s church hosted the event, stepped in multiple times to calm tensions. “Of course we’re pissed off. Of course we’re tired,” he said. “But the chief is here. He showed up. Let’s give him some time.”
Staffing and Systemic Challenges
Watson emphasized the department’s understaffing. “On a busy Friday or Saturday night, we may only have five officers on duty,” he said. “That’s not nearly enough to cover the whole city.” His goal is to bring staffing levels up to 27 or 28 officers—the average for a city Ruston’s size.
But hiring has proven difficult. Watson shared that of 17 applicants interviewed recently, only two met the department’s standards. Some applicants, he noted, were unable to even complete a paragraph during the application process.
Watson also pointed to the limitations of civil service procedures, which restrict how and when disciplinary action can be taken against officers. “I have to hand them a note and then I can’t say anything else until Civil Service responds,” he explained, noting that investigations can take months.
Commitment to Change
Despite the challenges, Watson says he is committed to changing the culture of policing in Ruston. He is developing a Citizen’s Academy to give residents an inside look at law enforcement operations and to promote better understanding between officers and the public.
“This job is about building relationships,” Watson said. “I want to change the experience people have with law enforcement. I want us to have as many positive interactions as we can.”
The next community meeting with Chief Watson is scheduled for 7 p.m. on August 4 at Zion Traveler Baptist Church.