LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / August 30, 2000

HAHNVILLE – This trio of teen-agers may get some ribbing from classmates, but they thoroughly enjoy their time with St. Charles Parishsheriff’s deputies.

One day, they may join the department. It’s already gotten them a betterclass of friends.

For Shannon Allison, 14, Jack Gilboy, 13, and Chris Baird, 15, all of Luling, their association with Explorer Post 15, sponsored by the St. CharlesParish Sheriff’s Office, has been fun as well as hard work.

Baird said, “As a little kid, you tell your parents you want to be a police officer. I stuck with it.”He continued, “I love working with the community, and I look up to (advisor) Deputy Danny Moran. I hope to be in his shoes one day.”Baird said his whole family is proud of his choice and he stands tall at Hahnville High because of it. He’s also an offensive lineman for thefootball team.

“Most people don’t like the cops’ reputation, but it’s what I want to do and they treat me with respect,” he said.

Gilboy, whose mother, Sandy Gilboy, works for the sheriff’s department, fell into the Explorer post naturally.

“When my mom got into the sheriff’s office I was too young for the Explorers,” he recalled. However, he tagged along anyway and is now a fullmember.

“I love the fun things we do and the work we do,” Gilboy said.

Those fun and work things include annual Christmas visits to Children’s Hospital, assisting with the annual senior citizen Carnival ball, campouts, competitions and working with the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.

“We raised $66,000 last year,” Gilboy recalled.

Allison found a new sense of belonging with her affiliation with the Explorer post. An adopted daughter and only child, she’s got a group ofbrothers now who she considers her best friends.

“When I moved here three years ago from Metairie I begged my mom to let me join,” Allison remembered.

When she did join, “some people stopped talking to me.” Since then,though, some friends are now clamoring to join after hearing of her experiences.

Also active in ROTC, Allison said her mom approved so long as she keeps her grades up. That’s been no problem with this motivation. “I like going camping and the competition,” she added.

At a recent Explorers competition in St. Tammany Parish, the postcompeted in drills on the firing range, investigating mock crime scenes and running an obstacle course, among other activities.

The local team, led by these three, won the sportsman award.

Upcoming activities for Explorer Post 15 include working at the Sacred Heart Fair in Norco in September, the Fall Scout Encampment in October, the Relay for Life in November and the Children’s Hospital visit in December.

“They’re a fantastic group of kids,” Moran added. “They put so much spiritand effort in everything they do. Whenever they’re called upon, they’rethere.”

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