Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. announced on Jan. 13 the local launch of the same youth program that helped him learn about law enforcement as a teen in St. Louis.
The Caddo Sheriff’s Office has been organizing its own Law Enforcement Explorers program in association with the Boy Scouts of America. Locally, the opportunity will be for Caddo Parish students ages 13-18.
Officials from the Northwest Louisiana Council of the Boy Scouts, which will change its name to Scouting America next month, joined with Whitehorn to establish Post 1490, signing a memorandum of understanding Monday at Government Plaza.
“It can definitely kickstart a young person’s career and spark their interest in law enforcement,” said Jeffery Brasher, an executive with the area boy scouts association.
Capt. LaTienda Pierre of the Caddo Sheriff’s Office said the goal for the first year is to attract 50 members from around Caddo Parish.
“Where we want to begin with this is pulling from various schools,” she said. While also seeking interest from private schools, virtual school and homeschooled students, she said school resource officers at Caddo’s public high schools will be important recruiters. “We are giving that challenge to each of our SROs to identify four students in each of their schools who are interested in a career in criminal justice.”
Whitehorn participated in the St. Louis Police Explorers in his middle teen years and said it was part of “the reason I am where I am today.”
“I know the benefits that it can bring,” he said. “It took me off the streets. That and the military really helped mature me.”
The purpose of the program is to expose young people to law enforcement career possibilities and to develop leadership. Members will learn in classroom settings but also participate in local sheriff department activities, get a close-up look at various jobs deputies do and participate in related community service projects.
Membership will be open to those with at least a 2.3 grade point average and a behavioral record in good standing during the academic year.
Once established, the group will meet at Safety Town, 8910 Jewella Avenue, off the northwest corner of the Summer Grove Baptist parking lot.
There will be an open house Jan. 27. Those interested in membership can ask a school resource officer, e-mail vernita.williams@caddosherriff.org or call 318-681-0874.
Whitehorn said he turned over his dream of starting the local program to some of his staff, and he introduced several of them at the launch event. Each explained how the Explorers would improve relations between the community and law enforcement. Brenda Wadsworth said she’s seen how school resource officers and activities like Shop with a Cop have changed the way young people see the agency.
“Once they had that interaction with us and see that we’re there to help them and to teach them, it changed their view of law enforcement,” she said. “If the only interaction they’ve had with the sheriff’s office in the past has been negative, this will give us an opportunity to show the better side.”