Principal of 5940 Training, LLC
Mr. Phares is the Principal of 5940 Training, LLC, providing security consulting services and training to hospitals, churches, and private businesses. He began his law enforcement career with the Baton Rouge Police Department as a Patrolman in 1972. After serving 19 years on the street as a robbery and homicide Detective as well as a member, and later Commander, of the Hostage Rescue Team, Mr. Phares was named Chief of Police in 1991. He led the Healthcare Security Response Officers: A Guide to Best Practices in the Baton Rouge Police Department until his retirement in 2001. The Department achieved national accreditation under his leadership. From 2001-2003, Mr. Phares served as Lead Instructor for the U.S. State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATAP) Crisis Response Team course, training counter-terrorist teams from over a dozen countries. He joined the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office in 2003, initially commanding the Sheriff’s Office’s emergency services and firearms training. He was later named Chief Criminal Deputy and, upon the resignation of Sheriff Elmer Litchfield due to ill health in 2006, he was named Sheriff and served in that office until December 2007. Mr. Phares joined the Louisiana Office of Inspector General in 2008 and served as an Investigative Supervisor and Chief Investigator. He has been a Police Firearms Instructor since 1981 and currently teaches firearms to law enforcement as well as private citizens. Mr. Phares is a graduate of Louisiana State University, the Baton Rouge Police Department Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, and numerous professional law enforcement training classes.