By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In his 22-year career in law enforcement in St. John Parish, Mike Tregre has experienced the investigation process on every level from start to finish.

“I’ve seen it all,” said Tregre, 43, the public information officer for District Attorney Tom Daley. “I’ve seen bad people do good, and I’ve seen good people do bad. Criminals come in all varieties.”

Although he has amassed a notable career in the field, Tregre said his interests as a young boy growing up in St. John did not begin with law enforcement. In his high school years at East St. John, Tregre played and always had aspirations to become a star athlete.

“It didn’t work out for me, obviously,” Tregre said with a laugh. “So I turned my attention to other opportunities. I went into law enforcement because I could see the similarities. There was always a lot of running, jumping and tackling, as well as a definite need to stay sharp and physically fit. It is certainly a much more dangerous game.”

After graduating from East St. John in 1988, Tregre enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge before eventually coming home to join the Sheriff’s Office. As a 21-year-old new recruit, his eagerness to go out to take someone on was overflowing – that is until a veteran partner brought him back to earth in a hurry.

“We were sitting in a patrol car about to start the day and I had lots of energy,” he said. “He turned to me and said, ‘The one thing you need to remember about this job is that you have to be ready to take someone’s life or give your own.’ Talk about a splash of cold water. This line of work is certainly not for everyone.”

In his 22 years on the force, Tregre has worked in nearly every division, his most challenging and exciting years working as a detective.

“The best way to describe it is that when you are assigned a case as a detective, you are presented with a bucket of fertilizer that you have to turn into a bouquet of roses,” he said. “When dealing with a crime scene, everything is considered, and no stone is left unturned.”

In 1996, when Sheriff Wayne Jones came into office, Tregre moved from the detective bureau into public affairs as head of public information creating a new challenge for the now seasoned veteran.

Tregre explained that the influx of crime dramas on network television has amped up people’s curiosity about the criminal justice system. He said people have come to expect to know everything.

After 20 years on the Sheriff’s Office side, Tregre made the move in 2008 to the District Attorney’s office.

“Now I’m getting the chance to see the wrap up and conclusion of a criminal case, and it has been an adjustment,” he said. “Every miniscule aspect of a criminal investigation is now under an intense microscope. The judge, the lawyers, the victims and the jury are all looking at everything that was done. I have learned that cases need to be airtight or else the slightest little detail could jeopardize an entire investigation.”

Tregre spends as much free time as he can staying active and keeping fit. When he is not running the track at Highway 51 Park, he is out fishing. He is also a passionate talker and loves discussing current events. He resides in LaPlace with his wife of 20 years, Tanyia, and their children, Jasmine and Jared.