By Pat Culverhouse
Sgt. Jeremy Haas believes training is one of the most important factors in law enforcement, and he believes Webster Parish is setting a standard that is respected throughout the state.
“Webster Parish is setting the pace for training,” Haas told members of the Minden Lions Club. “Training that is happening in your Sheriff’s Office is second to none in the state.”
Haas has been with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office for the past two and a half years, and has 17 years’ experience in law enforcement. For 12 years he has served as a Master Instructor, training and certifying P.O.S.T. instructors across the state.
P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification is required for its officers by most law enforcement agencies in the state.
Haas said Webster Parish currently has two full-time trainers who instruct the future instructors. Soon, the Sheriff’s Office will have the distinction of supplying a pair of Master Instructors. Only a handful of Master Instructors have been certified statewide.
“Capt. Joel Thomas is currently in the Master Instructor program,” he said. “He and I travel across the state conducting training for P.O.S.T. instructors…everything that is taught in the academy.”
Haas said training at academies comes in three categories: corrections, law enforcement and firearms training. He is certified in all three.
In his introduction of Haas, Sheriff Jason Parker said one of his most important duties was to ensure the men and women who put on the WPSO uniform are equipped not only with the right gear, but with the highest level training possible.
“Massive training is taking place and we’re improving each day. We can put out the best knowledge. It makes a better officer,” Haas said. “When police show up, we don’t want them to think they’re having a bad day, we want them to say, ‘Thank goodness the police are here.’”
Over the past two-plus years, training efficiency has improved, Haas told Lions members. Most importantly, facilities to help in that training have improved significantly.
“We now have a 20-lane shooting lane, and an office for training that can accommodate 20 to 25 officers,” he said. “We can literally walk out the back door to the range. Before, we had to go to other agencies for firearms certification. Now we are 100 percent self-reliant. Other agencies now come to us.”
Haas said the training Webster Parish provides extends beyond its deputies.
“We train a lot of groups outside law enforcement. We go to churches and help assess their situations, train their security teams…we will help put plans together,” he said.
A major factor in developing what he considers one of the best training programs in the state begins with leadership, Haas said.
“This can’t happen without help from leadership,” he said. “I’ve worked around the world and (Sheriff Parker) is one of the best I’ve ever worked with. He has helped us grow, opened the door to make opportunities.”