LAPLACE – Officers with the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club visited with all eighth grade males at parish schools, encouraging them to join the group.

Applications are due September 10. Young men in eighth through 12th grade at any high school in St. John the Baptist Parish are eligible to join. Distingushed Gentleman is a group that serves as a mentoring program for young men in the parish.

Several officers serve as mentors and meet monthly with club members. The officers work to guide these young men in building traits of good character that will prepare them to be productive members of society as well as assist these young men in obtaining skills needed to become positive influences in the community. These skills are introduced and reinforced through lessons, experiences, and interactions that will deepen and broaden their knowledge to become distinguished gentlemen.

“This type of program is desperately needed in our parish to help keep our young men on the right track of being great future leaders of St. John,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said.

Schools, parents and students interested in learning more about the program or obtaining an application may call Deputy Darlene Cooper at 985-359-8632 or Cpl. Trystin Williams at 985-359-8746.