By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office will soon join the ranks of 25 fellow law enforcement agencies statewide and have its own police academy.

Sheriff Greg C. Champagne made the academy one of his priorities when he took office, and the application itself was made several months ago with a presentation to the Police Officer Standard Training Council in Baton Rouge.

The council reviewed the documentation and, joined by POST council member Harry Morel, district attorney for the 29th Judicial District in Hahnville, approved the application.

“The POST council recognized the growth of our department and parish in recent years and acknowledged the need for a new academy here,” Champagne said. “We have been recognized regionally as being on the cutting edge in the training of our officers.”

With the new academy, the sheriff’s office will host 12-week training programs for local and area law enforcement agencies. In the past, two satellite academies have been conducted in St. Charles Parish, working with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Several SCPSO personnel, including Champagne, have served as guest instructors at area academies and will provide instruction at the new academy.