St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office celebrates Citizens Police Academy’s 20th year

Posted: August 23rd, 2018 | Filed under: News Releases

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Capt. Charles Borchers speaks to Citizens Police Academy participants on opening night of the course’s 20th session. The free, 10-week program is offered by the Sheriff’s Office so residents can learn about various aspects of police work. Also pictured is Sgt. Eric Eilers, left.

Sgt. Eric Eilers welcomes participants on Aug. 23 to the 20th session of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy, an annual program offered to residents who want to learn about various aspects of police work.

Lt. Daniel Bostic, of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division Narcotics Unit, speaks with participants of this year’s Citizens Police Academy during opening night of the 20th session of the program.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office celebrated the beginning of the 20th year of its Citizens Police Academy Aug. 23 with nearly 30 residents ready and eager to learn about the multiple aspects of police work, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The purpose of the annual program is to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.

“Our goal in offering this course is to give residents an insight on how and why things are handled in a certain manner,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “The purpose is to foster a positive relationship between our citizens and our officers.”

Coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers, the 10-week course will include visits from veteran representatives of each division of the Sheriff’s Office who will speak on the various phases of law enforcement, including patrol work, traffic laws, narcotics enforcement, detective duties, crime scene investigations, and SWAT team demonstrations.

Participants also will visit the Parish Courthouse and Prison to see what those environments are like. A graduation ceremony will be held Oct. 24 for participants who complete the course.

Capt. Borchers said more than 700 parish residents have participated in the Citizens Police Academy since its inception in 1998.

“It’s really become a popular course among adults,” Capt. Borchers said. “This program gives residents a real feel for what police work entails and it’s about as realistic as we can make it for them.”

For more information about the program, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eilers at (504) 278-7799.