St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne recently announced that Major Sam Zinna will serve as president of the Louisiana Chapter FBI National Academy Associates. Major Zinna ascends to the presidency after serving seven years on the organization’s Board of Directors. As president, Major Zinna will have oversight of the organization’s operations throughout 2008.

The FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. is the most prestigious law enforcement leadership training institution in the nation and less than one percent of all law enforcement officers will be afforded the opportunity to attend.

Major Zinna was appointed to command the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau in May 2001. He has been with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office since September 1982.

Prior to that, he served five years as a deputy and homicide detective with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Previously, Major Zinna assumed the lead role in overseeing two vital St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office projects at the request of Sheriff Greg Champagne; the building of the new parish prison and the operations of the 9-1-1 communications system.

Formerly, Major Zinna commanded Administrative Services, putting him in charge of the Sheriff’s Office’s Record Division, Data Processing, 9-1-1 Communications Center, Personnel, and Training departments.

During his service, he has been awarded numerous citations, including certificates of merit, certificates of participation and appreciation and many, many, letters of congratulations and thanks from local schools, industries, businesses and government.

Major Zinna started as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and spent several years as an Internal Affairs Officer and in the Public Affairs Division. He has been in the rank of major since 1992.

Major Zinna is a native of Louisiana born in Tangipahoa Parish. He is married with one child and resides in the east bank community of Destrehan.