FERRIDAY — Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office senior deputy John Cowan will temporarily lead the Ferriday Police Department.

Mayor Sherrie Jacobs has appointed Cowan to take the helm at the department following the suspension of Chief Arthur Lewis, who was recently placed on administrative leave for unspecified reasons for an undefined period of time. Jacobs has declined to talk about the reason by Lewis’ leave.

“The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office allowed Senior Deputy John Cowan to come help with administrative issues (at FPD),” Jacobs said Friday.

Jacobs declined to comment further or elaborate on how long Cowan will be at FPD or his compensation.

CPSO Chief Deputy David Hedrick said the sheriff’s office is taking Cowan’s assignment day to day.

“John is one of my more capable deputies,” Hedrick said. “I temporarily allowed him to go over there and assist the Town of Ferriday with administrative issues within the department.”

Hedrick said he is happy to assist Ferriday in its time of need.

“They called on us, and we came over,” Hedrick said. “It is the same thing we would do for any department in the parish.

“The people of Ferriday, they are Concordia Parish citizens also. We are going to do everything we can to make sure they are just as safe as anyone who lives outside the town, who we normally take care of. The town of Ferriday is very important to us and it always will be.”

Lewis, who had previously served as Vidalia police chief before losing a re-election bid earlier this year, has been serving as Ferriday’s chief since July.