Graduation exercises for the 54th basic training class of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy will occur at 4 p.m., Thursday, August 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, 9333 Linwood Avenue. Sheriff Steve Prator will be the guest speaker. This is the first-ever class of graduates exclusively from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office.

For 14 weeks, the recruits received more than 501 hours of training to become P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standard Training) certified officers. Their training topics included officer survival skills, active shooter drills, officer-down scenarios, academics, and weapons qualifications. Their training also included physical fitness, chemical weapons, legal aspects, defensive tactics, driving, diversity, professionalism, law, patrol activities, traffic services, report writing, investigations, firearms, first aid, and criminal justice.

Graduates are: Cassandra Berry, Tchaiquonyia Brown, Jennifer Bryant, Tammy Bullock, Tahji Davis, Lakeshia Gaines, Justin Harvey, Paul Heim, Samantha Kirkland, Gerica Lawrence, Justice Oneal-Taylor, Daniel Sheen, Shaledria Smith, Arndra Stephens Jr., and Brianna Taylor.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the ceremony, with the doors opening at 3:30 p.m. A unique part of the ceremony will allow family and friends to assist the graduates in pinning their badges for the first time.