Mike Cazes, who served five terms as sheriff of West Baton Rouge, died Monday morning, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

Cazes, a Democrat, was first elected in 2003 and was returned by voters to the position four more times, before choosing not to seek re-election in 2023.

In 2015, as Cazes sought his third term in office, he told The Advocate, “As long as I can protect this community and make sure the people of this parish get the best quality of life they deserve, I want to continue being their sheriff.”

Cazes joined the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office as an officer at the parish jail in 1981, then went on to serve as patrol deputy and administrative assistant to the sheriff over the next several years. In 1991, he was elected as city marshal for Port Allen. The following year, he wa

See Full Page