CCS Partners with Hammond PD to Enhance School Security

Courtney Christian School is pleased to announce it has entered a public/private partnership with the Hammond Police Department to have a full-time school resource officer assigned to its campus for the 2023-2024 school year. This partnership – the first of its kind in Tangipahoa Parish – was made possible through parent support of an assessment to fund the cooperative endeavor agreement, as well as with the support of City of Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto.

Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron, Jr., who was instrumental in establishing the partnership, is basing the model for this arrangement after the Covington Police Department’s unique partnership with their local private schools. He has assigned Detective Nelson Ragas to Courtney Christian School as its full-time school resource officer. Detective Ragas, who has been on campus since the school year began earlier this month, is responsible for actively monitoring the campus and responding to any incidents that might occur.

According to Chief Bergeron and Mrs. Sue Courtney, head of school at Courtney Christian School, the benefits of a full-time school resource officer include continued protection of students and the ability to have an immediate on-site response, in light of recent national events related to school safety.

“Mrs. Sue stepped up to get something together to ensure safety on the school’s campus,” said Chief Bergeron. “They are at the forefront of keeping their students and staff safe.”

While the partnership is new, Courtney Christian School has been communicating with school families and implementing improved safety procedures and plans for more than a year in two phases, with the addition of a full-time school resource officer completing the second phase.

“We are immensely grateful to Mayor Pete, Chief Bergeron and Detective Ragas for partnering with us to enhance the safety and security of our campus,” said Mrs. Courtney. “We look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”

Detective Nelson Ragas at Courtney Christian School