There’s a new sheriff in Franklin Parish, but the words “Franklin Parish Sheriff” still evoke bitter memories for African-Americans in Monroe, especially Carroll High School Alumni and several coaches who lost their Louisiana teaching careers.
For many African-Americans in Monroe, the name “Franklin Parish” means trouble, and at the least old school, good old boy, “injustice.”
Bryan Linder was sworn in as the new sheriff on October 20, 2025, following his decisive victory in the October 11 special election. Linder, a military veteran and former deputy in the parish, secured 53% of the vote in the open primary, surpassing the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff and claiming the role outright against three other candidates.
His election fills the vacancy left by longtime Sheriff Kevin Cobb, who resigned in March 2025 to take a promoted position as executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association (LSA) in Baton Rouge, effective April 1.
Cobb’s departure marked the end of a tenure that, while earning him accolades like a 2024 induction into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame, left lingering bitterness in the neighboring Monroe area—particularly among the Carroll High School community.
This stems from a heated altercation on October 21, 2022, exactly three years this week, during a football game between Carroll High in Monroe and Franklin Parish High in Winnsboro.
What started as complaints about profanity from Carroll coaches in the press box escalated into a physical confrontation in the stands after Cobb personally intervened to escort them out.
Amid a hostile crowd, the incident involved pushing and shoving, with Cobb alleging the coaches engaged fans and law enforcement aggressively, but African-Americans showed videos of Cobbs reportedly starting the altercation, wrestling with Carroll Coaches.
No arrests occurred on-site, but the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office soon issued warrants for three Carroll coaches: head coach Brandon Landers and assistants Zemetress Randall and Drouzon Quillen, charging them with inciting a riot and battery of a police officer.
The coaches turned themselves in, posted bond, and faced ongoing legal battles.
Landers pled guilty to reduced charges of battery and disturbing the peace, effectively ending his time as head coach and his Louisiana teaching career.
Quillen was convicted after a trial, described as a “kangaroo,” in which Cobb was allowed to sit before the bar in an intimidating presence. In court, Cobbs testified that Franklin Parish residents exemplified model behavior despite videos showing Cobbs wrestling with coaches and fans pouring liquids on them while yelling at them.
Quillen was sentenced to 45 days in jail and lost an appeal in early 2024, derailing his coaching career.
Randall’s case drew less attention, with no detailed convictions reported.
Adding to the fallout, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association suspended all three plus seven other Carroll assistants for the rest of the 2022 season, sidelining the team’s leadership and prompting appeals from Monroe City Schools.
For many in Monroe, the episode highlighted overreach by Cobb and his office, casting a shadow over cross-parish relations and ruining professional paths for educators involved.
Despite the controversy, Cobb’s career advanced unimpeded, transitioning to a statewide advocacy role at the LSA.
In contrast, Linder’s ascension signals a potential fresh start for Franklin Parish, a rural area of about 20,000 residents.
At his swearing-in before a packed crowd, officiated by Fifth Judicial District Judge Steve Dean, Linder emphasized community-wide engagement, vowing to have deputies patrol and build trust in towns like Wisner, Gilbert, Baskin, and Winnsboro.
His priorities include tackling child abuse and gun violence, especially among youth, aiming to foster positive law enforcement interactions and move beyond past tensions.
Shifting from Cobbs to Linder may be the first step toward healing the wounds between the two schools.
No election will change the fate of the educators whose careers were interrupted because of Cobb’s actions with the support of what many called the Franklin Parish “Kangaroo” Court.
