KEY TAKEAWAYS: Col. Robert Hodges will retire this fall after 31 years with Louisiana State Police. Hodges was appointed superintendent by Gov. Jeff Landry in January 2024. Landry selected Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Frank Besson as the next State Police leader. Hodges is reportedly seeking appointment as U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Col. Robert Hodges, Gov. Jeff Landry’s pick to lead Louisiana State Police when he took office in January 2024, announced his pending retirement Friday in a message to employees at the agency, WAFB-TV reported. Hodges has worked for State Police for 31 years and will step down as superintendent this fall. Most of his time with the agency was spent with its patrol and investigations divisions. Before taking the leadership role, Hodges oversaw the 18-parish LSP Region 2 Patrol. WAFB has previously reported that Hodges, an LSU and Brother Martin High School graduate, is seeking the appointment to become U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana, which includes the New Orleans area. Landry has picked Lt. Col. Frank Besson to replace Hodges. Besson, a Grand Isle native, is currently the agency’s deputy superintendent and chief of staff. He has more than 30 years experience in law enforcement, including time with the Grand Isle Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police Troop C. Besson received an associate degree in criminal justice from Nicholls State University and a bachelor’s degree from LSU-Alexandria in the same field. ...read more read less