ST. CHARLES PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT K-9 DEPUTY RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD AS U.S. MARSHALS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR

St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Deputy/Special Deputy U.S. Marshal Paul Finn received the U.S. Marshals Service Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award from U.S. Marshals Service Director John Clark. The award was given to Deputy Finn at a ceremony held in Arlington, Virginia on April 11, 2007.

Deputy Finn has been with the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office for fifteen years and has been assigned to the U.S. Marshals EDLA Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF) since 2003 by Sheriff Greg Champagne. Finn and his K-9, Boefy or “Bo”, a Belgian Malinois, have assisted CSFTF in tracking down violent fugitives and sexual predators, including several recent “America’s Most Wanted” fugitive arrests. He is currently working with EDLA CSFTF district Deputy U.S. Marshals and out of district deputies that have been assigned to the U.S. Attorney General’s post Hurricane Katrina USMS “Operation Debris Removal” initiative. His group is averaging between ten and fifteen fugitive arrests per week. Finn also assist the U.S. Marshals by giving talks and demonstrations for school children. He will also be helping with EDLA’s G.R.E.A.T.(Gang Resistance Education and Training) program which is restarting in New Orleans as a U.S. Department of Justice effort to help curb future violence in the city.

After Hurricane Katrina he and Bo assisted local law enforcement in efforts to locate missing persons in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. When not working with CSFTF Finn is on call for the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office and spends much of his free time training with Bo.

Acting Marshal Irwin stated, “Paul and Bo are an extremely important part of CSFTF and have helped to make EDLA safer by locating and arresting fugitives. Their presence also makes the arrest of many of our violent fugitives much safer for law enforcement and the fugitive by having Bo there. Paul also gives time back to the public by speaking to children around the community about his and Bo’s duties. He has worked tirelessly to earn this award.”