The curtain has been lifted on the inner workings of law enforcement in St. John the Baptist Parish with the launch of the SJSO Citizens Academy Class 2025-7. According to a Facebook post from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, the program—which began on Wednesday—aims to strengthen the relationship between local law enforcement and residents by offering a firsthand look behind the badge.
Over the course of nine weeks, the 35 "citizen cadets" will traverse the intricacies of the Sheriff's Office's operations, guided by Sheriff Mike Tregre and Deputy Bernell Charles, the academy facilitator. Showered with wisdom, the participants will encounter the realities of policing—far from the stylized bravado of Hollywood. "This academy is a fulfillment of a campaign promise I made in 2011 to increase transparency and camaraderie between the St. John Sheriff's Office and the citizens of St. John Parish," Sheriff Tregre told the attendees. He aims to rectify misconceptions stemming from the dramatizations seen on television.
The initial session provided attendees with a dive into the 911 Communications Division, spotlighting the Communication Specialists operating as pillars of stability during crises. The SJSO presented Lt. Christie Chauvin, the St. John E911 Communications Center Commander, who unpacked the day-to-day workings of the 911 Center. Explaining the crucial partnership between the public and emergency services, Chauvin emphasized, "That's why we are asking all of those questions. The more information we have, the better informed our emergency responders will be," according to the same post.
Last year alone, the St. John E911 Communications Center juggled 100,000 calls for service, splitting between 31,451 emergencies and 71,359 non-emergency engagements. In teaching the academy members, the Communication Specialists shared how cutting-edge technology has enhanced their ability to effectively coordinate responses to emergencies within the parish. The program's objective gears towards illuminating the sheer scale and expertise of their response efforts—showing that, when calling 911, how clear and precise communication with a communication specialist can result in swifter, more effective assistance upon the arrival of first responders.
