Experience That Leads.
Service That Matters.
West Monroe | Ward 5
John Rutledge is committed to protecting our community through experienced leadership, professional service, and accountability. As your next City Marshal, he will work every day to serve the citizens of West Monroe with integrity and dedication.
Support the John Rutledge for Marshal Campaign
John Rutledge for City Marshal
Serving the City of West Monroe and Ward 5
Election Day: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 20–27, 2026
ABOUT
John Rutledge
Experience That Makes a Difference
John Rutledge has spent his career serving and protecting the West Monroe community through active law enforcement and public service. With years of hands-on experience and proven leadership, he is committed to leading the Office of City Marshal with integrity, accountability, and a dedication to serving every citizen.
Active Law Enforcement
Hands-on experience serving and protecting the people of West Monroe.
Proven Leadership
Experienced in supervising personnel, solving problems, and making decisions that impact the safety and security of West Monroe.
PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
Years of working directly with citizens while building trust through professionalism, accountability, and dedicated service.
Background & Experience
John Rutledge has dedicated more than four decades to serving and protecting the citizens of West Monroe and Ouachita Parish. His career in public safety began in 1984 as a Cadet with the West Monroe Police Department and has since spanned nearly every area of law enforcement, including communications, corrections, patrol, investigations, warrants, civil process, and K-9 operations. Throughout his career, John has served with the West Monroe Marshal’s Office, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, and has worked alongside local, state, and federal agencies on major criminal investigations involving violent offenders, narcotics trafficking, and other high-risk cases.
In addition to his law enforcement career, John served as a Signal Maintainer for Kansas City Southern Railroad from 2005 to 2023, during which he was responsible for maintaining railroad crossings, track signals, switches, and wayside detection systems that help ensure the safety of both railroad employees and the traveling public. His lifelong commitment to public safety, leadership under pressure, and dedication to serving others have prepared him to lead the West Monroe Marshal’s Office with experience, integrity, and accountability.
Service & Recognition
- More than 40 years of public safety and law enforcement experience.
- Awarded the Stormy Kromer Award by Kansas City Southern Railroad for saving a man from drowning.
- Recipient of numerous letters of commendation for outstanding law enforcement service.
- Assisted in the arrest of violent offenders involved in homicide, armed robbery, sexual assault, and other major crimes.
- Helped remove significant quantities of illegal narcotics and cash through K-9 and narcotics investigations.
- Dedicated a career to protecting the citizens of West Monroe and Ouachita Parish through leadership, service, and public safety.
Leadership & Specialized Experience
Began his law enforcement career as a Cadet with the West Monroe Police Department in 1984.
● Served in communications, corrections, patrol, investigations, warrants, civil process, and K-9 operations.
● Commissioned with the West Monroe Marshal’s Office and served as a Reserve Deputy Marshal.
● Served as Sergeant over the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division.
● Commissioned with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office from 2016 to 2020.
● Worked alongside the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Louisiana State Police, and other local and federal agencies on complex investigations.
● Participated in SWAT deployments, hostage situations, barricaded suspect incidents, and high-risk warrant operations.
● Investigated violent crimes including homicide, armed robbery, sexual assault, aggravated battery, and narcotics trafficking.
Maintained railroad crossings, signal systems, switches, and safety equipment for Kansas City Southern Railroad from 2005 to 2023.
