Beauregard Parish Deputy Jim Cheever has been a D.A.R.E. officer for almost 30 years, and for the first time in his career he received the program’s highest honor by being named the Louisiana D.A.R.E. Officers Association Officer of the Year award.

“I am beyond words about this. I am so surprised to have received this award, I really am. I have put everything into this program all these years and I love what I do, and it’s really special to be given this kind of honor,” Cheever said.

Cheever began his career with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office in 1992 as a correctional deputy after serving three years active duty with the U.S. Army. He continued to serve another 10 years in the Army reserves.

In 1994, he graduated from the Louisiana D.A.R.E. Officer Training Program, and he has gone on to obtain numerous accomplishments over the years that include serving as the president of the LDOA and being a member of the Louisiana critical incident team.

He is also a minister of the United Pentecostal Church of DeRidder and serves as the BPSO head chaplain.

Sheriff Mark Herford described Cheever as “the definition of selflessness,” but Cheever humbly brushes aside the comment.

“I call myself the ‘hey, you’ guy. I’m just here doing the best I can to help anyone who needs it. It doesn’t matter about a person’s race, religion or creed, if I can help someone then that’s what I’m going to do,” Cheever said.

Though he may be humble about his dedication, Cheever admits that he gives his all to his D.A.R.E. students. To date, Cheever has graduated 11,949 fifth-grade students in the Beauregard Parish program and he says he sees many of those faces every day within his work family.

“I would say that about 80 percent of our BPSO deputies have graduated D.A.R.E through me. Now they’re officers and their own kids are in my D.A.R.E. class. I love it. I love being able to teach each new generation,” he said.

Now at 71, Cheever believes he sees retirement on the horizon in the next two years, but he admits it will be a bittersweet moment to walk away from the job that he loves so much.

“I truly do believe in this program and I love kids. There is so much directed at them with the intention to hurt them because they simply don’t know what the dangers are. It takes someone getting on their level to show them right from wrong and that’s when you really see that you have made an impact,” Cheever said.

Over the years, Cheever has been more than just a D.A.R.E. instructor at the major Beauregard district schools. He has been the voice of reason and wisdom to students who will listen, but he has also been a strong shoulder in times of tragedy.

He has experienced the best and the worst in the lives of his students, but he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I credit my time in the Army with preparing me for all the things that life has thrown my way, but it was also how I was raised. When I joined the Army, my only motivation was to make a difference. I believe that I have achieved that, I really do.”