LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office officially kicked off its third year of the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club Sept. 14 during a welcome social at New Wine Christian Fellowship in LaPlace.

During the meet and greet, DG Club mentor Steven Faucheux welcomed students and their parents. Sgt. Faucheux and several officers who serve as mentors met with the students from local middle and high schools to get acquainted. The officers will 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 will be introduced and reinforced through lessons, experiences, and interactions that will deepen and broaden their knowledge to become distinguished gentlemen.

Sheriff Mike Tregre told the students he and the mentors are excited to help advise and guide them in becoming leaders and role models.

A mentoring program for young men in the parish has been a vision of Sheriff Tregre for a few years, and in 2017, he started the program.