ST. MARTINVILLE — Twenty-two new officers have joined the ranks of several Acadiana law en-forcement agencies after completing their P.O.S.T. certification in St. Martinville.

Participants immersed themselves in basic law enforcement training, mastering patrol activities, officer survival, use of force, investigations as well as various legal aspects of their new job.

The course lasted 11 weeks and included more than 400 hours of hands-on training, said Maj. Ginny Higgins, a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s spokeswoman.

Judge Kristian Earles, 15th Judicial District, speaks to law enforcement graduates during a St. Martinville ceremony. JIM MUSTIAN / THE DAILY IBERIAN Advertisement

At a ceremony Friday morning, the cadets were recognized at the training academy here. Fifteenth Judicial District Court Judge Kristian Earles, a former police officer who delivered the keynote address, congratulated the cadets on their endurance and wished them the best of the luck on the road.

“Law enforcement can be an exciting and challenging job,” Earles said. “You will have funny stories and sad stories.”

Earles also warned the newly minted officers of the tricks defense lawyers play during cross-examinations in court, adding he looks forward to seeing the officers testify in his court room.

“Don’t get mad on the stand,” Earles said, adding he has seen juries acquit defendants when they thought a police officer was out to get them.

The following agencies have cadets who graduated: St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Martin-ville Police Department, Vermilion Parish She-riff’s, Scott Police Depart-ment, Abbeville City Marshal, St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Abbeville Police Department, Louisiana Adult Probation & Parole, Iota Police Department, Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office.