HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Sheriff’s Office Maj. Sam Zinna, who has served in a number of key positions in the Sheriff’s Office during his 30-year career, recently retired.

Zinna, who came to work for the Sheriff’s Office in 1982 during the administration of former Sheriff Charles Wilson, held a number of high-profile jobs in the office, including commander of the criminal investigations division, and also served as the office’s spokesperson.  

He supervised the construction of the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center as well as the office’s Law Enforcement Complex for Sheriff Greg Champagne and also was the office’s representative during the construction of the parish’s emergency communications center.

Zinna’s father, Francis, a State Police trooper, was killed in the line of duty in 1958 when Zinna was a child. Despite his mother’s concerns, Zinna said he was determined to pursue a career in law enforcement, joining the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in 1977.

Zinna is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., as well as of the FBI’s Leadership Development Institute.

He currently serves as president of the 9-1-1 Communications District and was the 2008 president of the Louisiana chapter FBI National Academy Associates. He is a member of Fraternal Order of Police, Louisiana Lodge No. 15, Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, Louisiana Peace Officer’s Association, FBI National Academy Associates – Louisiana Chapter, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association.