AUBURN – Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy P. Desjardins participated in the 93rd session of the National Sheriffs’ Institute in Longmont, Colo., Sept. 9 through 15.

Desjardins was awarded his degree of completion from Jim Barbee, correctional program specialist, National Institute of Corrections, and Fred G. Wilson, director of operations, National Sheriffs’ Association.

The institute is the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs. Desjardins was joined by 26 other sheriffs from across the country to address the issues they face.

Desjardins and the others discussed the numerous ways to respond as leaders to emerging and continuing issues in criminal justice and public safety, such as homeland security, school violence, court security, leadership, drugs, disaster relief, jail operations and community relations in the current context of increased awareness for public safety.

Wilson said, “Sheriff Desjardins is a leader with vision for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office. It is an honor to have Sheriff Desjardins join the over 3,000 graduates of the NSI since 1973.”

The institute is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons. The National Sheriffs’ Association is a nonprofit professional association located in Alexandria, Va. It represents the nearly 3,100 elected sheriffs across the nation and has more than 20,000 members, including deputy sheriffs, other law enforcement professionals, students and others.

Since 1940, the association has served as an information clearinghouse for sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, other law enforcement professionals, state governments and the federal government.

It also provides management training for sheriffs and their command personnel in school safety, court security, offers liability insurance and administers the National Neighborhood Watch, Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Triad programs.