Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAPLACE — Crime prevention begins with recreation, according to Sheriff Mike Tregre.

More than 50 members of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office enjoyed a sunny Saturday afternoon alongside the youth of the community during Tregre’s inaugural Punt, Pass & Kick Competition, held July 23 at Joe Keller Stadium in Reserve. More than 60 boys and girls ages 6 to 13 were in attendance.

Tregre called the event a “complete success” and a step toward improving the public’s relationship with law enforcement.

“This is the kind of stuff we need more up in our community. You’re not going to solve problems by just arresting people,” Tregre said. “I’m always looking for ways to build better relationships with our youth. There is a sense of negativity with law enforcement and youth in this country. Right here in little St. John, we’re just trying to get the kids to see that we like having fun.”

According to Tregre, children are more likely to trust officers in uniform when they remember seeing the same officers out of uniform, running around and tossing a football with them.

While Tregre has held a similar event once in the past, he said Punt, Pass & Kick is now poised to become an annual staple in St. John Parish.

“I can promise we are going to do this every year from now on. It’s going to be bigger and better,” Tregre said. “I’m going to get more industry and private businesses here, and we’re going to line up this whole track with businesses that will clap, scream and shout for these kids when they win. Each one of them is a winner.”

SJSO officer Greg Baker said sponsors large and small, from the big corporations like Marathon to the mom and pop shops that help the community thrive, came together for the benefit of local children.

“We even had a fraternity and some coaches and players from East St. John come out,” Baker said. “We had a great turnout, and hopefully next year will be even bigger.”

After the opening prayer and pledge, children were introduced to proper stretching and agility techniques by local business Cypress Physical Therapy. SJSO employees cooked hamburgers and hotdogs to make sure children and parents had a filling meal. Representatives from the local Walmart even dropped by during the event to donate backpacks and boxes of school supplies.

First place medals and second and third place ribbons were awarded to boys and girls in each age division for highest scores in punt, pass, kick and the 40-yard dash. Children were divided into the following age categories: 6/7, 8/9, 10/11 and 12/13.

Each participant was given two chances in each of the four skills. First, second and third place trophies were also awarded to overall male and female winners in each age division for the highest combined scores. Winners were recognized for their achievements on an Olympic style stage as members of the SJSO applauded.

Awards recipients were as follows:

 

Age Division 6-7 (Highest Scores in each Skill):

Punt

1^st Jonah Wilson

2^nd Emi Zeringue

3^rd Chase Fleming

 

Pass

1^st Brandon Brown

2^nd Chase Fleming

3^rd Jonah Wilson

 

Kick

1^st Brian Washington, Jr.

2^nd Ronald August

3^rd Chase Fleming

 

40 Yard Dash

1^st Brandon Brown

2^nd Romelo Pack

3^rd Ryan James

 

Age Division 6-7 Overall Winners (Combined Scores):

Male

1^st Brayden Barlow

2^nd Brian Washington, Jr.

3^rd Ronald August

 

Female

1^st Emi Zeringue

2^nd Darielle Lewis

3^rd Kaj King

 

Age Division 8-9 (Highest Scores in each Skill):

Punt

1^st Blake Barlow

2^nd Kaleb Edwards

3^rd Chase Lavender

 

Pass

1^st Cole Berry

2^nd Blake Barlow

3^rd Kaleb Edwards

 

Kick

1^st Blake Barlow

2^nd Cooper Cancienne

3^rd Braxton McLean

 

40 Yard Dash

1^st Eryn Isom

2^nd Cooper Cancienne

3^rd Cole Berry

 

Age Division 8-9 Overall Winners (Combined Scores):

Male

1^st Blake Barlow

2^nd Kaleb Edwards

3^rd Cooper Cancienne

 

Female

1^st Rylee’Dunn

2^nd Noah Wilson

 

Age Division 10-11 (Highest Scores in each Skill):

Punt

1^st Landon Tribe

2^nd Armani Mitchell

3^rd Mason Nicholas

 

Pass

1^st Judah Wilson

2^nd Armani Mitchell

3^rd Jarrod Morgan

 

Kick

1^st Austin Mitchell

2^nd Tahj Rogers

3^rd Mason Nicholas

 

40 Yard Dash

1^st Judah Wilson

2^nd Landon Tribe

3^rd Austin Mitchell

 

Age Division 10-11 Overall Winners (Combined Scores):

Male

1^st Austin Mitchell

2^nd Mason Nicholas

3^rd Armani Mitchell

 

Female

1^st Ava Deroche

2^nd Taraji Joseph

 

Age Division 12-13 (Highest Scores in each Skill):

Punt

1^st Christopher Bailey

2^nd Mickey Hewitt

3^rd Anna Clement

 

Pass

1^st Deontae Fleming

2^nd Christopher Bailey

3^rd Brayden Nicholas

 

Kick

1^st Christopher Bailey

2^nd Deontae Fleming

3^rd Tristen Rogers

 

40 Yard Dash

1^st Deontae Fleming

2^nd Brayden Nicholas

3^rd Christopher Bailey

 

Age Division 12-13 Overall Winners (Combined Scores):

Male

1^st Christopher Bailey

2^nd Deontae Fleming

3^rd La’Bron Lewis

 

Female

1^st Anna Clement

2^nd Kyla Edwards