Academy graduates law-enforcement cadets

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Oct 31, 2009 - Page: 1BA

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ST. MARTINVILLE — Acadiana law enforcement welcomed 24 cadets into their ranks Friday following their graduation from the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Training Academy.

Twenty-two new cadets and two former police officers who underwent refresher training received their Police Officers Standards of Training certificates following the ceremony.

Larry Landry, director of the training academy, said the cadets were focused and worked together as a group.

“We hope to prepare them for a long career — all the way through retirement,” Landry said.

The cadets endured an 11-week course and received more than 400 hours of training in areas such as patrol activities, legal aspects, officer survival, investigations, traffic services, domestic and family matters and use of force.

The last stood out the most for Todd Noel, class president and now a patrol deputy with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Defensive tactics was I think the best thing that we learned,” Noel said.

“We all know how to defend ourselves now and keep the streets a little safer.

“We also know what a Taser feels like,” he said. “It’s five seconds you never get back.”

Cadets were instructed by various law-enforcement members, including FBI and State Police.

The following agencies graduated cadets:

n Sheriff’s offices in St. Martin, Evangeline, Acadia, Vermilion and St. Landry parishes.

n Police departments in Scott, Abbeville and Iota.