VIDEO: 2nd Annual Junior Deputy Academy

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss.(WCBI)—The Winston County Sheriff’s Department added 16 new junior deputies to the force Thursday.

The second annual Junior Deputy, three day, Academy just wrapped up.

“It makes me a lot closer to them and know that I can depend on them and that they will be there when I need them,”said junior deputy Stella Williamson.

Winston County Sheriff Jason Pugh and his deputies are working to build a relationship with kids in the community.

The Junior Deputies are between 6 and 12 years old. Pugh says seeing how the job is suppose to be done, instills understanding and trust at an early age.

“That gives them a good impression right off the bat. They know what they are here for and they know what we are here to do. They know we’re here to help them. We’re not the bad guys that’s going to take them to jail or take mama and daddy to jail. Our goal is to actually help them with what problems they have in life,”said Pugh.

Chief Investigator Connie Hampton led the deputies through a mock burglary investigation. He says he’s happy to bust any myths about his job.

“We get to hear a lot of things from the kids and that lets us know what they are exposed to. We try to over come those misconceptions they have, because t.v. is not real life. They see a lot of things that happen, that in real life we can’t do,”said Hampton.

Pugh says over all, he hopes the junior deputies walk away with a sense of comfort after getting to know their local law enforcement.

“About 80% of our force has come down and they’ve actually got to meet them. The kids know; Jimmie Lovorn, they know Mark Gregory, they know Jason Pugh. They know us, they know who they are calling and what they are going to get when they call,”said Pugh.

The kids officially became Junior Deputies in a Graduation Ceremony earlier Thursday afternoon.