DEPUTY OF THE YEAR

Blake W. Aleman (center) accepts the prestigious Deputy of the Year trophy from Chief Deputy Dannie Brown (left) and St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronny Theriot. Blake is recognized for diffusing a dangerous situation at UMC Hospital in Lafayette. A prisoner being detained by another law enforcement agency managed to get that officer’s weapon. Blake, who was escorting another prisoner himself, was able to talk the prisoner into putting down the weapon.