Sheriff Jayson Richardson would like to recognize Lieutenant Dean Register for his outstanding devotion to the D.A.R.E. program here in DeSoto Parish for the past 20 years.  D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education and Lt. Register has spent the last 20 years of his 24 year career mentoring and teaching kids to "Just Say No" to drugs, gangs, and violence.  It also teaches students to make good choices in every aspect of life.  Among the 28 officers that graduated from the program with Lt. Register only two are still teaching today.  Both officers were recently recognized at the Annual Louisiana D.A.R.E. Training Conference.  Lt. Register, widely known over the years to many students and teachers as "Deputy Dean," was promoted to Sergeant in 2017, and to Lieutenant in 2018.  He continues to teach D.A.R.E. today, as well as supervising all School Resource Officers, Court Bailiffs, and Court House Security.

 

Lt. Register said, "For myself, teaching D.A.R.E. is more than a job, it is a calling that God put on my heart many years ago.  I've often said, 'If you want to make a difference in life then you must choose to be different!'  If we instill good values and morals into the lives of our children then we empower them to one day be able to make that conscious decision to be the change they want to see in the world around them.  I am personally thankful to Sheriff Hugh Bennet for sending me through the program, Sheriff Arbuckle for allowing me to continue the work, and Sheriff Jayson Richardson for his continued support in allowing me to influence and mentor the wonderful children of our parish for many years to come."  

 

Sheriff Richardson said, "Leaders with devotion such as Lt. Dean Register are an asset to have at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office.  Officers are mostly recognized for law-enforcement and rarely for the relationships they build in our community through deep conviction.  We are eternally grateful for his years of service, his friendship, and his continued commitment to impact the youth of our parish.”