Vermilion Parish Sheriff Eddie Langlinais launches first Citizens Academy

For the first time, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office is inviting the public to take a firsthand look at Sheriff’s Office operations with a 4-week Citizen’s Academy this fall.
The Citizen’s Academy will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning on September 4th and will culminate with one final session and participant graduation on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The program consists of five sessions that will take participants through the process of becoming a Deputy Sheriff and explore many facets of VPSO operations. In the four Wednesday sessions, participants can expect to learn about such things as law enforcement training, crime scene analysis, patrol and criminal investigations, K-9 and narcotics operations, and SWAT responses.
In the fifth and final session, participants will learn firearms safety at the shooting range and take part in a virtual training simulation before receiving a certificate of completion from Sheriff Eddie Langlinais and Chief Deputy Blair Dore, signifying their graduation from the Vermilion Parish Citizen’s Academy.
The Citizen’s Academy is the first of its kind in Vermilion Parish. Regarding the program Sheriff Langlinais says, “Working together, we can overcome challenges and create a better and safer community."
Sheriff Eddie Langlinais views the program as a way to bridge the gap between citizens and law enforcement. He believes the Citizen’s Academy has two goals: to help the public understand why and how law enforcement officers do what they do, and to create an avenue for law enforcement officers to hear concerns from the people of Vermilion Parish firsthand.
The program is free and open to community members 18 and older, and prospective members must pass a basic background check prior to enrollment. Of applicants who pass the background check, 20 will be chosen to participate in order of when applications are received.