HOUMA, La. (AP) - The A&E reality show "Cajun Justice" may not be returning after the season finale airs next week.
The show, which follows the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, is airing its final episode of the season Aug. 16. The show was taped when Vernon Bourgeois was sheriff. Bourgeois did not seek a second term and was replaced this summer by Jerry Larpenter, who says he doesn't want to see the show return.
"I think the show is ridiculous and disrespectful to the people of this parish," Larpenter told The Courier.
Larpenter said he has repeatedly turned down offers to continue the making of "Cajun Justice," which trails sheriff's deputies as they respond to calls in the south Louisiana community located about 45 miles south of New Orleans. He said he was offered $10,000 an episode to keep the show going - compared to the $1,500 per episode that Bourgeois was paid.
The show's producers and A&E publicists could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
Larpenter served as the parish's sheriff for 22 years but opted out of running again in 2007 to instead run for parish president. In 2008, Larpenter lost the parish president's race to Michel Claudet.
Voters re-elected Larpenter as sheriff last year when Bourgeois did not seek re-election. Upon returning to the post last month, Larpenter said he didn't like the way the sheriff's office was portrayed on "Cajun Justice" and didn't believe the compensation producers paid covered the expenses for the reality television show.
"(Producers) used our gas, equipment and manpower to go film all over the place," he said. "The ones who got shafted are the taxpayers of Terrebonne Parish."