St. Martin Sheriff's Office sends deputies for special training

St. Martin Sheriff’s Office deputies (standing, from left) Sgt. Troy Dupuis, Sgt. Crystal Clues, Deputy Darryl Vernon, and (seated, from left) Lt. Kyra Cole, Maj. Ginny Higgins are the first five from SMSO to complete an intensive 40-hour course in crisis intervention. The training occurred in December in Lake Charles. The Crisis Intervention Team Program establishes a specialized response concept to enable officers to be trained to respond to all calls relating to persons with a mental illness in crisis. Sheriff Ronny Theriot has committed to the training of more officers in an effort to respond effectively no calls of this nature.