Organizations: Winn Parish Sheriff's Auxiliary, 1978, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: July 12, 1978; August 9, 1978; November 8, 1978 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Article No. 1: Sheriff's Auxiliary Organized In Parish Winn Parish Deputy Sheriff Gregg Davies told the Winnfield Rotary Club at its Wednesday meeting that the Winn Parish Sheriff's Auxiliary has now been organized and is operating with 25 members. Davies said that the group is strictly a volunteer organization made up of citizens who are willing to take training to give service to their community. The group is an extension of the Sheriff's office trained to help in times when the regular, paid crew at the Sheriff's office cannot adequately take care of the problem. Examples given were the Goldonna disaster which was mainly handled at first by the Winn Parish group. Other examples of the auxiliary working are ball games, fairs, rodeos and other school events. Each man must work eight hours a month. The auxiliary members carry guns and make arrests only when in uniform and in the presence of regular, professional deputies. Each member buys $300 to $500 worth of uniforms and equipment. The Sheriff's office pays for a $1 million liability policy at a cost of seven or eight dollars per month for each man but all other funds come from the auxiliary itself, Davies told Rotarians. To become a member a person must be a citizen of Winn Parish, a registered voter, and have no felony conviction. The group selects their own officers. At present, William Russell, attorney, is commander, and Charles Fox, teacher, is secretary and Eugene Edmonds, contractor, is treasurer. Gregg Davies is coordinator with the Sheriff's Office. There is a board of review which settles any internal problems but the Sheriff has the final say in disputed matters. In the rescue division alone there have been five drownings in Winn since July, 1976 and an average of 35 to 40 hunters are reported lost each year. Davies is apparently well qualified for his work in law enforcement. He has a degree in law enforcement from Northeast Louisiana University, is a graduate of the Alexandria Regional Police Academy and the LSU In-Service Training Program. Before joining the Sheriff's Office 19 months ago he had served as a private investigator for two and one half years. At present he is serving part time as an instructor at Northwestern State University. He was introduced by Bobby Jordan, vice-president of the club. Sheriff Dan Page and Earl Denning were guests of the club and took part in the discussion that followed Davies' talk. Article No. 2: Sheriff's Auxiliary Holds Graduation Formal graduation and swearing-in ceremonies for the recently formed Winn Parish Sheriff's Auxiliary Unit were held Monday night at Lynda's Country Kitchen, with 26 men receiving the honors. Eighth Judicial District Judge Hiram Wright administered the oath of office. Formed in June, the Auxiliary is a volunteer organization of parish citizens trained to help the regular law enforcement personnel in emergency situations, and in routine areas such as ball games, fairs, rodeos, and other school events. The unit is an extension of the Sheriff's Office with auxiliary members serving as aid to the regular professional deputies. Each member underwent over 40 hours training and provide their own uniforms, side-arms, and other equipment. Those graduating and being sworn in were Jackie James, Eugene Edmonds, Charles Fox, William Russell, Bud Blake, Crawford Erskins, John Martin, Floyd Tubbs, Conley Adams, C. E. Smiley, Cal Bain, Mark Morgan, Randy Strickland, Lamar Skains, Rusty Russell, Billy Gorham, Earl Denning III, Bobby Gates, V. C. Alsup, Chuck Alsup, Herman Grantadams, Rev. Henry Woods, Mike Roberts, Hayward Alexander, Benny Woods, and Douglas Prescott. Sheriff Dan Page told the group that "we've had a fine start and are looking forward to working with you." "The sky is the limit," he said of the potentials of the organization, in thanking those "who have devoted their time to the unit." Also present at the ceremonies, held following an informal banquet, were members of the unit's Review Board, which settles any internal problems. They are James Poisso, Chief Deputy in the Sheriff's Office, Bud Blake, Deputy Gregg Davies, John Martin, and Lamar Skains. Article No. 3 Sheriff's Auxiliary: Aid to the Parish A Winn Parish man is reported missing by his family, who can only give the Sheriff's Department a general location of the area where he was supposed to be in, which they describe as "out hunting in the woods." The initial check of his whereabouts fails to locate him, and in intensive search is started that not only includes regular deputies, neighborhood volunteers, and other assisting agencies, but members of a new concept to Winn Parish law enforcement, the Winn Parish Sheriff's Auxiliary Unit. Eighteen hours later, the man is found, save and unharmed. He had lost his bearing, gotten lost, and was wandering around when located. The man and incident are fictitious, but the circumstances and potential are real. And the Auxiliary Unit, formed in May of this year, has already aided in similar situations in Winn Parish. "It is the fulfillment of a campaign pledge," Sheriff Dan Page said of the Auxiliary, which is comprised of 26 part-time, volunteer deputies who aid and assist regular deputies in the performance of their duties. The unit is an extension of the Sheriff's Office, trained to help in emergency situations when the regular, paid deputies cannot adequately take care of the problem, as well as providing assistance and back-up at such function as ball games, fairs, rodeos, and other school events. And of course, the Unit is involved in all search and rescue situations, such as the 24 hour search for a Winn Parish resident last Wednesday and Thursday. Members include a cross section of professional and age groups, from teacher to independent trucker to small businessmen, motivated by various reasons that range from "I'm interested in the community," to a desire to "know more about the Sheriff's Office operations." Qualifications for members are that they be citizens of Winn Parish, be at least 18 years old, be a registered voter in the parish, and have no felony convictions, and while the qualifications for Auxiliary members and regular deputies are the same, the only difference between the two classifications is that regular deputies are salaried. Auxiliary members serve without pay and provide for their own equipment and uniforms, which Unit Commander Jackie James said averaged $500 an individual. "The only cost to the Sheriff's Office is liability insurance," James said. Before an Auxiliary deputy could be commissioned, he said, a 40 hour training course was instituted and various instructors were invited to teach at the "mini-academy". Personnel from the District Attorney's Office, area nurses, and members of the law enforcement field taught courses in first-aid, patrol and rescue techniques. The unit is the fulfillment of a major campaign pledge made in 1975 by Page, in seeking election to the Sheriff's Office. A life-long resident of Winn Parish, Page had worked for 20 years with the Winnfield Police Department, as well as the Louisiana State Police, from which he retired in 1975. Although new to the community, James said, the unit is manned by local residents giving of their free time to better serve and protect the citizens of Winn Parish. "It will be a big asset to the future growth of Winn Parish as people choose to live, work , and raise their family here," he pointed out. Headed by James, other officers in the unit are Charles Fox, secretary and squad leader; Eugene Edmonds, Treasurer and squad leader; and Dr. Calvin Phelps, chaplain. Sheriff's Deputy Gregg Davies serves as coordinator and training officer for the unit. In addition, a review board composed of five men established policies, screens new applicants, and acts as a disciplinary committee. Chief Deputy James Poisso, Deputy Davies, Auxiliary Deputies Bud Blake, John Martin, and James Russell serve on the board. The review board settles any internal problems but the Sheriff has the final say in disputed matters. James listed members in addition to himself, Edmonds, the Rev. Calvin Phelps and Fox, as Henry Wood, Mark Morgan, Douglas Prescott, Benny Wood, James Russell III, Charles Alsup, Floyd Tubbs, Vaughn Alsup, Bud Blake, John Martin, Conley Adams, Billy Gorham, Mike Roberts, Herman Grantadams, Earl Denning III, C. J. Erskins, Hayward Alexander, Robert Gates, C. E. Smiley, Jr. And with the heavy time of the year with hunters, ball games, school activities, and holidays, the Auxiliary unit functions as an extra protection in potentially dangerous situations, as well as providing more community and parish involvement with law enforcement for the safety and progress of Winn Parish and its citizens.