FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TPSO NEWS

HAMMOND, LA – (September 12, 2017) – Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports the following:

"Nationally, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 years old. In most metropolitan areas, 80% of the population lives within one mile of a registered sex offender. Only 1 in 3 children will report the incident. These statistics are very concerning to me.  Sex offenders cross socio-economic boundaries, living in the richest and poorest neighborhoods."

"As law enforcement, we are proud to partner with Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Mark Kolwe &The Offenderwatch Initiative Foundation launching in the schools the T.A.S.K. program 'Teaching Awareness to School Kids (T.A.S.K).' With over 300 sex offenders in Tangipahoa Parish – protecting children is my highest priority. Parents who register for the T.A.S.K. program can view a map that shows sex offenders who live nearby and provide them with email alerts when sex offenders move into their area."

Our chairman, Lou Luzynski, met our partner Jenna Quinn at the Crimes Against Children conference in Dallas on August 8th.

Left to Right: Joel Schultz, Lou Luzynski, Jenna Quinn, John Strain

We attended the Southern Mississippi Drug Endangered Children Conference help in Philadelphia, MS on August 8th.

 

Topics discussed included the crossover between drug endangered children, sexually abused children, and human trafficking.

The Florida Association of School Resource Officers (FASRO) offers the most advanced and comprehensive training for its members in the state of Florida. FASRO members received training at this year's annual conference. OWI presented an update to their board and our plans for 2018.

Take a look at our Photo Gallery for more pictures from the 2017 FASRO Conference!

We proudly presented 2 awards at the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Press Conference.

1. Sheriff Newell Normand was recognized as a leader among Sheriffs for his agency's “school bus" story, which was prominently placed inside the cover of every T.A.S.K. brochure.
2. Suzanne Provenzano, owner of Adventure Quest Laser Tag, was recognized as the first formal OffenderWatch Initiative Award recipient.

Congratulations to both of our recipients!

(Trophy designed by sculptor Andy Schumann -- schumannsculpture.com)