The Guilford County Board of Commissioners will honor a special award recipient at the board’s Thursday, Aug. 4 meeting – Mannie Slaughter, who’s earned the Boy Scouts of America Lifesaving Award.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Department sponsors Explorer Post 592 – a law enforcement education and community service program chartered by the Boy Scouts of America.
On November 28 of last year, Slaughter was home with his family when his father faced a serious medical emergency. Slaughter, who had attended the Sheriff’s Youth Academy where some emergency medical advice was taught. was able to quickly realize that his father was showing signs and symptoms of a stroke, and Slaughter instructed his mother to call 911.
It was through Slaughter’s training during the class for youngsters interested in law enforcement that he learned the information he put to use to help save his father, Fortunately, thanks to Slaughter’s fast action, his father recovered fully from his condition.
“Mannie Slaughter represents himself and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office with pride and honor,” a statement sent from the Sheriff’s Department to the Board of Commissioners notes.
The department is also using the event to help get other kids into Explorer Post 592, which department officials say, is “a great way to learn about the law enforcement profession and begin the preparation process to become a law enforcement officer. Knowledge gained through training gives involved youth a better understanding of the roles that law enforcement officers play in our society. The Explorer program is not only for those who wish to pursue careers in law enforcement, but also offers many opportunities in other areas as well.”
The Sheriff’s Department has had trouble in recent years filling vacancies and department officials would like to get more kids interested in the profession. Kids ages 14 to18 are eligible for membership in the Explorer Post, and Explorer members can participate through the end of the summer following his or her 18th birthday – as long as the young Explorer remains enrolled in high school.
The BSA has been virtually destroyed by bottom-feeding barristers making the entire organization responsible for the actions of a few.
Furthermore, the BSA is for BOYS. The GSA is for GIRLS. I was in the BSA for a few years. Some of it took.
Hooray for the Boy Scouts! They don’t get nearly enough positive press. Just look on the inscriptions on so many public benches etc: Eagle Scout project of John Doe. And that’s just the tip of their public service iceburg…….