The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office introduced the Emerging Leaders Initiative (E.L.I.), a leadership development program designed to identify, mentor and prepare the next generation of leaders in Bossier Parish.
The program’s first session was held Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Viking Drive Substation, which will serve as the program’s home base. The program was led by Dr. Shelley Barrett and endorsed by Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington.
The inaugural day-long session brought together 29 students, with 19 members of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office and four community leaders volunteering their time, knowledge and experience. The community leaders were Erin Buchanan with LA DOTD, Gary McCoy with Townsquare Media, Erika Derma with the LSU AgCenter and Abigail McAllister with the LSU AgCenter.
The program focused on professional growth, teamwork, communication and real-world problem-solving while helping participants build confidence, strengthen their leadership abilities and understand the importance of service, accountability and innovation.
Throughout the day, students learned about positive public communication and interacting with news and media. They also received demonstrations and instruction from the BSO Dive Team, Swift Water Rescue Team and Marine Patrol.
Additional topics included ATV safety, personality traits, decision-making and time management, healthy living and nutrition, BSO Support Services, physical fitness, self-defense tactics and first aid, drug resistance and vaping, interacting safely with law enforcement, SWAT and crisis negotiation, automotive safety and bomb technician operations.
“This program is about more than teaching young people about leadership. It’s about giving them opportunities to learn from people who are already serving their communities and helping them discover what they are capable of becoming,” Sheriff Whittington said.
Whittington said he was proud of the young people who participated in the program and grateful to those who gave their time and experience to invest in them.
“When we invest in our youth, we’re investing in the future of Bossier Parish,” Whittington said.
The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office said it looked forward to watching the young leaders grow, learn and develop throughout the E.L.I. program.