By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

RESERVE – Sheriff Mike Tregre made an appearance at Friday’s St. John the Baptist Parish School Board Mini Retreat at the Reserve branch of St. John Parish public library. Tregre discussed several topics concerning school safety, including policy regarding juvenile arrests after school fights, truants and weapons in school.
Tregre began his discussion by stating, as he has in the past, that he feels there is a direct link between education and incarceration rates, saying it is up the school board job educate children to aid in crime prevention while his department will continue to do what it can to remain visible and familiarize children with the Sheriff’s Office. Tregre also spoke about his plans to begin elementary school tours inside the jail to further educate children.
“I’m not here to scare them straight. I’m not here to yell at them,” he said. “I’m here to educate them and show them that you do not have to have this happen to you. You have to make decisions. That’s what got the men and women in here.”  
Tregre talked about school safety in light of last year’s Sandy Hook tragedy and said it is a sad reality that authorities by themselves cannot do much to prevent these types of tragedies from happening. Tregre said it is up to educators to help police the students while authorities work to make arrests, similar to a checks and balances system. With attentiveness and open lines of communication, tragedies can be prevented.
“We arrest them. You police them. I’m in this with you guys. We are connected, believe it or not. You are in the same business as us. You just don’t have the badge and the handcuffs,” said Tregre.
Tregre also said the system for handling students who fight should be tweaked. Instead of immediately arresting both students who participated in the fight, thus tying up officers that are also needed on the streets, Tregre suggested principals separate the students and have the parents pick them up. He also suggested principals try to find which student is the aggressor and punish that student alone instead of punishing both.