A group that works year round at developing the future leaders of the community will celebrate a long time community leader in his own right when Sheriff L. Paul Bailey will be presented with both the Soaring Eagle Award and the Good Turn Award by the LaSalle Council of the Boy Scouts of America tomorrow evening, Thursday March 7th, 2019 at 5:45pm at the Bertrand Crossing Campus of Lake Michigan College at 1905 Foundation Drive in Niles.
Those awards are presented to a person whose leadership in business, industry, government, education, social work or endeavors have contributed significantly to the growth and vitality to their community.
The LaSalle Council says they will honor Sheriff Bailey, because he has “Proudly served the residents of Berrien County as a police officer for 39 years and was elected Sheriff in 2001.” They add, “During that time he has supported the youth in the community by sponsoring the Exploring Post 602, Benton Harbor, BSA program.”
That Exploring Post offering Law Enforcement Career Exploring is open to young men and women ages 14 (and who have completed the 8th grade) and not yet 21 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of law enforcement. Nationally, more than 33,000 Explorers and 8,425 adult volunteers participate in Law Enforcement Exploring. The program highlights include:
- National Law Enforcement Exploring Leadership Academies
- Ride-along opportunities
- Career achievement awards
- National Law Enforcement Exploring Conferences
- Scholarship opportunities.
Berrien County was one of Michigan’s founding communities to establish Boy Scouts of America as a youth development and leadership program. This year, 2019, BSA in Berrien County will commemorate the past and inspire future generations to become good citizens, connect with, and serve their communities.
LaSalle Council provides the nation’s foremost youth program for character development and values-based leadership training to more than 5,500 youth from kindergarten through high school in eight counties across Northern Indiana and Southwest Lower Michigan. More than 2,000 adult volunteers deliver and support Scouting’s impactful programs to both boys and girls.
