Sheriff’s Office Junior Deputy Academy holds graduation for children who took the six-week course allowing them to learn about law enforcement and see department weaponry and equipment

Dajahae’ Robinson receives her graduation certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.	Bob Manual receives his graduation certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.
Hilton Preau, center, received an award for volunteering his time to help with the academy the last two years. At left is Capt. Charles Borchers and, at right, is Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers.	The cake enjoyed after the ceremony.

Children who graduated the Sheriff’s Office Junior Deputy Academy on July 20 had different favorite things they saw and learned.

Jacob Brupbacher, 12, of Meraux said he liked the session with the Narcotics Division. “I learned about how bad drugs are and about how they make arrests.” He also liked the display of equipment and talk by the Fire Department because, “I learned how to get out of a fire safely.’’

Ava Chalona, 10, of Arabi said she liked “going to the shooting range. I enjoyed shooting the guns’’ and learning about firearms safety.

Christian Robin, 9, of Chalmette, said he liked the tour of the Parish Prison and the demonstration of how to do CPR. He said he “might want to be a paramedic’’ to help people.

Others liked the boats brought by the Marine Division.

Nearly 30 kids graduated the second annual Junior Deputy Academy on July 20, a program started by Sheriff James Pohlmann and coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers.

Awards were given to three youngsters who were the best in accuracy in a shooting competition using .22-rifles at a shooting range. Lestat Buras won first place, Ava Chalona was second and Christian Robin placed third.

Also, Hilton Preau grandfather of one participant, received an award for volunteering to help with the academy the past two years.

Sheriff Pohlmann, speaking to graduates and their families, said he hoped the children enjoyed the academy, especially getting to see guns and equipment used by various divisions of the department, the bomb robot used to check suspicious items, the department’s mobile command post and the field trips.

“You saw a lot of cool things we have in law enforcement,” the sheriff told them.

He also said protecting the children of the parish “is a reason deputies get up and go to work each day.’’

“We would like to inspire some young people to become law enforcement officers,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The academy is patterned after the Sheriff’s Office free Citizens Police Academy for adults, which begins Aug. 24. Register for the adult version by calling Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Eilers at 278-7799.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for helping make the Junior Deputy Academy possible: Clements Insurance Co., Winn-Dixie in Chalmette, Wal-Mart in Chalmette, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, J & R Quick Stop, Hook and Line Sporting Goods.

Also, the Meraux Foundation, Acadian Ambulance Service and Kevin Spansel and Janie Fuller, St. Bernard Pistol and Rifle Range and board members Luke Marengo, Bill Finnan, Bill Atzenhoffer and Vincent Ferrara and Junior Deputy Academy adult chaperones Hilton Preau and Monica Buras.