My name is Beau Barras. I’m originally from Abbeville but now I call Lafayette my home. I’ve been married to my wife Leah Barras for 20 years. We will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this New Year’s Eve. We have two great sons, Grant and Jude. Grant is a senior at Southside and Jude is a Freshman. Many of you know me from my years with the Abbeville Fire Department. Recently, after 22 years, that career that I loved suddenly came to an abrupt end. The fire department and its leaders treated me with nothing but the utmost respect. I am grateful to have had the time I did with all the members past and present.

In June of 2025, I had a surgical procedure to help me with major back issues. When it was time for me to return to work, I was put through the process to undergo a work rehabilitation program overseen by an occupational therapist. At first, there was an issue with my heart rate being to high. After a month of training, exercise and a cardiologist cleared evaluation I was sent to this work rehabilitation program again. Once again, I was stopped during this test, Apparently, the occupational therapist described me as not having the image and ability to perform my job. I completed all the tests, in the allowed time and to this day, I will never understand that process. I was cleared by a cardiologist and a back surgeon but an occupational therapist basically shut my career down. In November, I was suspended by the Mayor of Abbeville for not being able to perform my job. Because of this, I attained a civil service attorney and fought this unjust act. I was given a timeline to either resign or face termination if I wouldn’t once again go through a biased and dishonest rehabilitation program. I choice to fight this process for as long as I could. My civil service hearing was going to be after the deadline and I would have been terminated by the mayor of Abbeville. When you are terminated in a civil service job, you are not allowed to work another civil service job for a number of years. I did not want that to happen. My integrity was on the line and I did not want that on my career. This process had been going on since May of 2025 and it had taken its toll on me physically and more important, mentally. I made the most difficult decision I have ever made thus far. I chose my health and my family over a job I loved for 22 years.

I never imagined how hard this process would have been. As of now, we are down to one income and things are piling up. I have applied for multiple positions but full time positions are hard to get around the holidays and towards the end of the year. We are now starting to see the lawyer bills come in. The fire department union generously donated money to help cover a retainer fee but we are now stuck paying off the lawyer bills. I am kindly asking for any generosity and assistance to help our family make it through the most difficult time in our lives. I hesitated to do this and I still feel guilty for asking. Once we are back on our feet and I find that new career, I will make a donation to a charity to show my appreciation.

The last thing that I kindly ask, is for everyone to pray for the members of all fire departments across the county especially the firefighters in Abbeville. Pray for all members of service that have gone through and are going through mental health issues that they have the courage to seek help and know they are not alone.

Thank you to all the people that have reached out to send well wishes. Thank you to the council members of Abbeville that sat with me, answered my phone calls and allowed my voice to be heard. Thank you to all my family and the Abbeville Fire Department and all the other departments that I’ve worked along side with. I had the best job in the world.