During the last eight months, Art Likens gave up every otherSaturday so he could “give something back to the community.”

Likens, an auxiliary deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’sDepartment, was one of 15 auxiliary deputies and reserve policeofficers who graduated from an eight-month certification andtraining course Saturday.

“Tonight is the culmination of eight months of work,” said Sgt.Frank Smith, training officer from Pike County, during the ceremonyat the government complex.

The certification class, held every other Saturday and everyother Monday night, included physical training, classroom exercisesand other activities.

“It was excellent training,” Likens said.

The auxiliary officers had to pass the 225-hour program, whereasfull-time officer must pass a 400-hour course. Smith said theauxiliary training was essentially the same as that for full-timeofficers, but in a condensed version.

The class began with 25 officers and 15 graduated. The classincluded auxiliary deputies or reserve police officers from theLincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Lawrence County Sheriff’sDepartment and Magnolia Police Department.

Likens, at 59 the oldest member of the class, said there werebumps, bruises and broken bones along the way. He sustained abroken finger during one of the exercises.

Still, Likens was proud to have taken the class and to help withthe sheriff’s department.

“It’s giving something back to the community, and I enjoy it,”said Likens, who works as a supervisor at Delphi Packard ElectricSystems.

Graduates included Likens, Furman Freeman, Joe Honea, AndrewGraham and Louis Parker from the Lincoln County Sheriff’sDepartment; Heather Barton, Brad Bozeman, Willie Collins, DeeDebold, Ryan Everett, Tony Lambert, Charles Peyton, and AdamTanksley from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and SonyaAnders and Randle Brumfield from the Magnolia PoliceDepartment.

Lincoln County Sheriff Lynn Boyte and Lawrence County SheriffJoel Thames praised the deputies for their willingness to pursuethe certification. Thames said citizens demand qualified,professionally-trained officers.

“Times are changing and we have to change with the times,” Boytesaid.

With tighter budgets and more demands for manpower, Boytepraised the vital role that auxiliary deputies and reserve officersplay with their departments. Saturday’s graduates gives the LincolnCounty Sheriff’s Department 12 certified auxiliary deputies.

“We couldn’t do all the things we do without our reserves. Iappreciate it,” Boyte said.

Auxiliary deputies man high school ball games, assist withtraffic details and other duties as needed.

“Anything we can do to help, we want to do,” Likens said.