It is a rare day that a chief of police tells it as it is! Today was that day! Bennie Raynor and I had been trading emails for a couple of days, and with it being a long weekend we agreed that Monday would be a good day to talk.
His department in the town of Pearl River is not running the Zachary Pittman case, the young man went missing some 8 miles out of his jurisdiction, it is being handled instead by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office. I had heard good things about Bennie Raynor from family members, and wanted to just get an idea about Pearl River.
Everything that I had been told about Bennie Raynor was absolutely true! He was both gracious, and informative.
His department has no control or direct involvement with the investigation, but they are willing to help in any way they can. A great example of that occurred two weeks ago. Zachary Pittman’s mother Christy Ragas had organized a search of a swamp area. Cadaver Dogs, foot soldiers, and a boat with a Side Scan Sonar, all were volunteers, all donated their time and expertise. Bennie Raynor permitted use of his resources to set up a command post for the group. When you consider that his entire staff of officers is less than 10, this is really quite something!
He has been the chief of police of Pearl River for 28 years. I understand that later this year he must once again face the battle for re-election. I do not think he will face much serious competition.
Most Police Chiefs like to beat around the bush. I had a very direct question, and I received a very direct answer. The more I poke around into the search for what happened to Zachary Pittman, the more convinced I become that drugs play a part. I do not think that Zachary was a dealer, I don’t even think that he was much of a consumer, but I do think he knew those that were, or indeed are. The question I put to Bennie was “Are drugs a serious problem in the areaâ€?
His reply was candid. Yes they are a problem, in the past month his department has rolled up two meth labs! This is in a town with about 2200 residents!
In fact we talked about drugs at some length. Even small towns like Pearl River are suffering from their effects. It has become a significant issue. He pointed out an interesting statistic, the drugs are changing, what is old again is new again. In the past year there have been at least 9 arrests involving Heroine.
While this interview did nothing to advance the search for Zachary Pittman, it did a great deal for me. I am so impressed that people like Bennie Raynor are out there. Obviously he has problems within his own area, but he is a man willing to help out when his help is needed.
I know I speak for Zach’s family in saying thank you.
Simon and Jan Barrett
(5 votes, average: 4.6 out of 5)
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11 users commented in " Zachary Pittman – An Interview With Benjamin “Bennie†Raynor "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackIs the mother going to take Peters advice about the questionaires,she didnt sound to favorable towards going that route.But i would give every thing a try,some anwsers could come through them,at least we would know those who rejected filing them out…an may want to ask why they wouldnt be willing to anwser,in order to maybe help Zackary,a his Mother,a child out.
Simon, Thanks for the article. I am glad to see that “good” law enforcement can be given credit when it is justified! Keep up the work on Zach!
Do be careful, Simon. It’s a very admirable thing you are doing to find out what happened to Zach, but you don’t live far from there and those druggies may want to retaliate. Just saying out of concern for you & Jan.
Also be carful whose political toes you step on in the town of Pearl River.
This was posted on the Pearl River NOLA.com forum today!
….”we all know who you are and hope you get what you deserve”…..
That was the result I got for posting a link to your website!!!!
To Jan57,
Hi, I wanted to tell you that I have no problem doing the questionaire tool that we talked about I am just worried that the people that we need to fill them out will not participate. Most of them are hostel toward us now and doubt they would do anything to help us. These were so called friends of my son. I am going to get with Simon about trying to get this tool going. I dont know how to do it but with Simon and his friends maybe we can. Thank you for your concern and help. Simon another great article, you are a very good writer. God has given you a wonderful talent and I thank him daily that I have met you and Jan. Thanks again and God Bless you.
Thank you Simon for sharing a positive spin on LE. Our family is not trying to say all LE is corrupt, bad, lazy or etc. Instead, we are saying that some LE is under budgeted, under staffed, and then there are those who just may be uninterested in this case as well. WHatever the reason, we just want to find Zachary and find out what happened that night June 24, 2009.
It’s good to know the Pearl River Police Department are willing to help even when it doesn’t involve their jurisdiction. Sounds like a dedicated group of people.
Pearl River is on the edge of the I-12 drug transporting corridor, so I understand their problems. Lots of stuff travels through the area, we hear about drug busts quite often on that route. Some of the stuff probably finds a stopoff point out there. I’m thinking it must be bad almost all over. Should we thank the drug culture of the 1960s for that? People who got hooked back then and their kids and grandkids have followed suit? Whatever, something is terribly wrong.
I do want to thank you, Jan, Bennie Raynor, and his team for all you’ve done to help Christy find Zachary.
Keep up the good work! Glad to hear that Zach’s mother is getting some help. Keep us posted!
Who was the last person to see Zach? And where was it he was supposed to be going after the confrontation with the last person that saw him? Was he on foot? Did he have and use a cell phone after his conversation with his mom?
The last person to see Zach was Chasity Campbell.And I know Ricky Lavigne says he was at work that night(with a relative) but I doubt that it’s true. As everyone knows the Mayor is Ricky’s father and a known crackhead and a worthless piece of work. Most of the people Zach hung with were drug users and almost all had ties to Law Enforcement. Who else would be able to control the flow of drugs and weapons—-other than Law Enforcement themselves. Can anyone not see what is happening in under the jurisdiction of St.Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office. Wake up people. Zach’s disappearance was no random act committed by druged crazed idiots. It was committed by the same people who took an oath to protect it’s citizens. They know who did it. Why the hell do you all think they don’t care , are not coving Zach’s story, or won’t let anyone else. Has anyone not heard what happened to some folks who were in Pearl River last week covering Zach’s case. Too bad only the Police dept. are the good guys because most of the corruption is out of his jurisdiction. You people are smarter than that, aren’t you?
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