Woman who Helped La. Police Officer with Ride During Chase Receives Citizenship Award

A 46-year-old preschool teacher who drove a Slidell police officer in pursuit of a shoplifting suspect was thanked and given an award by the department.

Nov. 5, 2025

2 min read

What to know

Slidell police honored local preschool teacher Leslie Smith with a "Citizenship Award" for helping Sgt. Jeff Kahrs pursue two shoplifting suspects.
Smith offered Kahrs a ride after witnessing the theft, allowing him to follow and help apprehend one of the suspects.
Acting Chief Daniel Seuzeneau and Kahrs commended Smith for her quick response during the incident.

By Willie Swett

Source The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

The Slidell Police Department gave its "Citizenship Award" on Tuesday to a St. Tammany resident and preschool teacher who assisted a police officer chasing suspects in a shoplifting incident that garnered heavy media attention over the weekend.

The resident, Leslie Smith, 46, was in her car in the Fremaux Town Center shopping area's parking lot on Saturday when she saw Slidell Police Sgt. Jeff Kahrs pursuing someone who had allegedly tried to steal a Michael Koors bag and two Coach purses worth a total of $581.80 from the Dillard's department store.

The suspect had discarded the items after Kahrs noticed her, police said, and tried to flee the store.

Kahrs, who was working a security detail at the store, pursued Baird on foot until Baird got into a car with another person and drove off.

After watching the incident unfold, Smith offered a ride to Kahrs. Kahrs, who was not near his patrol unit, hopped in. Kahrs had also radioed to other officers a description of the getaway vehicle.

Smith and Kahrs drove after the two suspects' vehicle, as other police officers also responded.

Kahrs and other officers soon after stopped and handcuffed a woman, Kelsey Baird, 34, of Navarre, Florida, and Eric Boudreaux, 43, of Biloxi, according to police cam footage posed on the department's Facebook page.

Baird and Boudreaux were booked with theft and resisting an officer by flight. Baird was also booked with possession of meth.

Kahrs and acting Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau thanked Smith at a press conference on Tuesday before giving her the award.

Though Baird discarded the bags before fleeing Dillard's, Slidell police said on Facebook that under Louisiana law, concealing merchandise from a store with the intent to steal "is considered theft."

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