Resource Officer Program

The West Feliciana Sheriff's Department is proud to have added a new program to our Department in the 2000-2001 school year. The Sheriff's Department has implemented a School Resource Officer Program. The School Resource Officer Program is part of a cooperative effort between education, law enforcement, and the community. The program promotes positive and effective communication between youth, teachers, and law enforcement. We will have an officer at each school. Our School Resource Officers all have a college degree. They will be substituting for the schools in the event of teacher absences in addition to their duties as deputy. This is the exciting part of our School Resource Officer Program and what sets us apart from the rest. Not only will our School Resource Officer see the children between classes and at sporting events, but also they will see them in the classroom setting and give the children a positive role model in the form of a deputy.

The goals of the program are simple:
1. Create a safer school environment, by:
- encouraging more positive attitudes towards rules, laws and society;
- supporting conflict resolution and the responsibilities of citizenship;
- teaching young people the concepts of the criminal justice system and the objectives of law enforcement as they are part of public and individual safety;
- assisting in the prevention of delinquency and criminal activity among young people.
2. Dispel misconceptions about law enforcement and society;
3. Act as a sounding board for students' concerns;
4. Act as liaison with courts, social services and other community programs.
5. Be a resource for information and community presenters.

At present, there are three School Resource Officers, based at the four Parish schools: West Feliciana High School, Middle School, Baines Elementary and Tunica Elementary. The duties of those Sheriff's Deputies include:
--develop and maintain a positive and open relationship with students, faculty and parents;
--provide informal counseling to students, or send referrals to the guidance office,
--act as a classroom instructor, providing lessons on law enforcement-related subjects,
--help to maintain a safe and orderly school-student community,
--provide technical assistance to the faculty, students and parents in the area of crime prevention or other law enforcement-related work,
--patrol and observe the halls, cafeteria, parking lot and other areas on or adjacent to school property where students frequent,
--assist school administrators with the general supervision of the student body and all persons coming onto school property,
--exercise police authority in criminal situations which require immediate action and serve as West Feliciana Parish law enforcement representative in non-emergency matters,
--refer matters of normal school discipline to the principal, and assist the school administration in the formation and implementation of security practices and crime prevention measures to address trends in the school and the community.

Our School Resource Officers are Lt. Darrel Roan, Deputy Brad Rachal, and Cpl. April Vessel. The Sheriff's Department is proud of our new program and hope that the rest of the parish is as excited as we are!

Most material on this web site is copyrighted by the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office. Any reproduction or use of the contents of this web site without prior consent of the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office is strictly prohibited. If you have comments or questions regarding this web site, please send an e-mail to Colonel Randy Metz at wfpso@bellsouth.net or call (225) 784-3128.