The Junior Deputy Program is a program for both boys and girls who have an interest in a public service and learning about law enforcement.

The Adams County Junior Deputy Program started in the early 1990s and spanned a seven-year time period. I had the privilege of being the director of the Junior Deputy Program during that time period.

Just a few of the activities we did included a haunted house, paint ball wars, fishing tournaments, picnics, swimming parties and assisting with the sheriff’s rodeo. Working with the youth and watching them become better citizens and students was a great reward for me. I still have contact with many of those youth, and I am proud to say that I had a small part in molding the adults that they have become.

Our new sheriff, Chuck Mayfield, and I felt the importance of re-organizing the Junior Deputy Program. These youth may become the future leaders of Adams County.

We both feel that working with youth at a young age sets the groundwork for the adults they will become. Positive interaction with law enforcement helps youth to realize that we are here for them and they should not be afraid of any law enforcement officer.

The organizational meeting of the Adams County Junior Deputy Program will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30.

The meeting will be at the Adams County Sheriff’s Firing Range on Foster Mound Road.

The program will train the youth of today in a manner that will promote strong, solid, patriotic, law-abiding citizens that possess good moral character, integrity, trustworthiness and the desire to perform good deeds for others.

This will be accomplished by providing the knowledge and skills that will be learned as each student progresses through the program. Each will be given the opportunity to see what they can accomplish for themselves. Each graduating junior deputy will be a mentor to the next class of junior deputies.

In this manner, each will have the best qualities brought out in him, or her, while they are learning what it is to be a junior deputy.

The most important aspect of this program is that it is youth based and adult supervised by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Candidates that wish to become a part of this program must meet certain minimum performance standards. Participants must be between the ages of 8 and 12, must be a resident of Adams County, must maintain a B average on their report card/progress report, attend all meetings as set by adult advisors, participate in community service projects supported by the sheriff’s office, have no criminal record and must be a U.S. citizen.

The Junior Deputy Program consists of more than work and community service. Members are trained in many aspects of law enforcement, some of which are introduction to law enforcement, self defense, emergency first aid, hunter safety, conflict resolution, community service, child fingerprinting, child passenger safety and crime scene investigations.

Although the main focus for the program is law enforcement, members are exposed to camping and outdoor skills, map reading, outdoor cooking, knot tying, wilderness survival and mounted patrol/horsemanship.

Members must be dedicated to the program and the community we all serve.

If you would like additional information about becoming a junior deputy or would like an application, please contact me at 601-442-2752.

Captain Randy Freeman is the Adams County Sheriff’s Office public relations officer.