NEW ORLEANS - 05-11-2019

Certificates awarded at graduation ceremony

Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman this week administered the oath of office to 17 recruits who have completed the training tor Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) certification.

Sheriff Gusman and Chief of Corrections Byron LeCounte presented the recruits with their POST certificates at a graduation ceremony attended by family and friends.

The recruits of Graduating Class C26-19 earned their POST certification after undergoing nearly two months of academic and tactical skills training. They are now eligible to earn $6,000 in state supplemental pay in addition to their base salary.

The POST-certified recruits are: Kabrina C. Badon, Natrelle M. Bailey, Sean M. Bechet, Ariel C. Breaux, Darline A. Eleby, Nickeisha G. Elmore, Raymoniqua M. Johnson, Quiera N. Joseph, Jada N. Lewis, Keri A. Lynch, Rome H. Mack, LeJeanne M. Menina, Catrina Y. Nealy,Theresa M. Park, Jonisha J. Richardson, Andre J. Samuels, and Tyla N. Sterling.

The graduation ceremony also included the presentation of awards. Marksmanship Awards for the female and male divisions were presented to Kabrina Badon and Rome Mack, respectively. Deputy Mack also won the Physical Fitness Award. Deputy Keri Lynch won three awards: the Highest Academic Award, Highest Test Score Award and the Sidney Zaffuto Award. The Zaffuto Award is given to the recruit who exemplifies "100% dedication, work ethic and professionalism." It is named for an OPSO deputy who died in the line of duty.

NEW ORLEANS - 04-24-2019

From left to right are Compliance Director Darnley Hodge, Sister Lilianne Flavin, OPSO Volunteer of the Year, and Sheriff Marlin Gusman.

First-ever Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held recently

The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has named a long-time volunteer, Sister Lilianne Flavin, as Volunteer of the Year 2018. Sister Lilianne received the honor at OPSO'S inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held earlier this month.

Sister Lilianne, an educator and spiritual adviser, lead a field of 37 volunteers who received certificates of appreciation for serving as volunteer chaplains, social workers and therapists. These volunteers provide educational and mental health services as well as spiritual guidance to inmates at the Orleans Justice Center.

The awards were presented by Sheriff Marlin Gusman and Compliance Director Darnley Hodge. "Sister Lilianne was one of the first volunteers I encountered when I became Sheriff in 2004 and she had already amassed many years as a volunteer here," Sheriff Gusman said. "I want to thank Sister Lilianne for volunteering at the Sheriff's Office for the past 36 years."

She began incorporating visits to the parish jail after encountering people who had been incarcerated or who were the relative of someone incarcerated. Since 1983, Sister Lilianne has visited OPSO facilities every Tuesday and Wednesday for two hours each day.

In her acceptance speech after receiving the award, Sister Lilianne said she is humbled by this experience of volunteering at the jail. "I feel privileged to be able to volunteer at the Orleans Justice Center. I've been called specifically to meet inmates at a time in their lives when they truly need God," she said.

Sister Lilianne, of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters Cabra, began here ministry teaching in low-income neighborhoods in the Uptown area. Besides volunteering at the Sheriff's Office, Sister Lilianne teaches HiSet classes at Hope House, which offers a program for persons to obtain a high school diploma.

The Sheriff's Office relies on a cadre of organizations and volunteers that provide inmates with a range of services from educational, to religious, to re-entry and more. If you wish to volunteer, contact Debra Hammons, director of policy and inmate services, at 504-827-4519, or via email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .