Sheriff’s Junior Deputy Academy being held for 10-13 year-olds through July 22; Aim is to teach about law enforcement and develop self-respect and pride in participants for themselves

Capt. Charles Borchers, coordinator of the program with Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers, talks with the class.

More than 30 St. Bernard Parish boys and girls 10-13 gather in the Sheriff’s Office Training Center to participate in the Junior Deputy Academy, with several parents sitting in at the back.

Seth Augustine of Chalmette, a participant who said he wanted to attend the Academy,because, “I want to know about the right things to do.’’

Sheriff James Pohlmann talks with participants, including taking questions.

Brandi Augustine of Chalmette wanted her 12-year son, Seth, to attend the new Junior Deputy Academy being held by the Sheriff’s Office to help him learn to make decisions about his future.

“I knew it would be informative,’’ said Augustine, who attended the first session with her son and about 30 other St. Bernard youth.

It would be a good experience for him, she said, because “he’s at a crucial age where you start to make decisions about the future’’ and a program like this might help.

“And he wanted to see what it was like.’’
Seth said he wanted to attend the Academy because, “I want to know about the right things to do.’’

Kevin Bryan is a sheriff’s deputy in Plaquemines Parish who lives in Violet. He said he wanted his 10-year-old son, Kevin Jr., to be in the class because, “He asks about what I do’’ and the Academy seemed like something he would like, Bryan said.

The program, being held through graduation on July 22, aims to teach parish children about law enforcement while helping them develop pride and self-respect for themselves and respect for their community and its values.

Capt. Charles Borchers and Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers are coordinating the Academy.

The sheriff, speaking to the group and several parents, said they would get to see some things the public normally doesn’t.

Highlights of the Academy include, he said, a trip to the shooting range where they fire a rifle, a chance to see the department’s bomb robot for checking out suspicious items, learning CPR which can save lives, demonstrations of SWAT equipment, the department airboat, a visit to the parish prison and talks with deputies.

“You will get to look behind the badge,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The sheriff also stressed they need to understand that their life will be about the decisions they make, including who they choose to associate with.

“We have a lot of people in our jail who have made bad decisions,’’ often including the use of drugs that got them addicted and led to being involved in crime as a way to find money for more drugs.

Borchers told the class he was a Junior Deputy years ago when the program used to be held before it was brought back by Sheriff Pohlmann. “It was lot of fun and opened my eyes to what to do and not do.”

Borchers also told the children that police “are not people to be scared of. You can trust us.’’

On the first day of class, Sgt. Chris Scheeler, a veteran of the Patrol Division, spoke about the day-to-day job of a police officer and took questions.

On the second session, Maj. Chad Clark, head of the Special Investigations Division including the Narcotics Unit, said that like the rest of the country St. Bernard has had overdose deaths from drugs in recent years and has seen an increase in arrests for use and sale of heroin. But he said that overdose deaths have gone down over the last year.

During the Academy, deputies from various divisions of the Sheriff’s Office will visit with participants and introduce them to functions that impact the parish.

Corporate sponsors and supporters of the Junior Deputy Academy include the Meraux Foundation, J & R Quick Stop, Hook & Line, Wal-Mart, B & G Fresh Market. Breaux Mart, Winn-Dixie, Clements Insurance, LA-Unlimited, The St. Bernard News and The Times-Picayune.