In many parts of the country, communities are finding it hard to replace their law enforcement forces. From Ferguson, Mo., throughout the rest of the land it seems officers are becoming more and more attacked — both literally and figuratively. This makes it hard to recruit the next generation of our protectors.

That is why it was good to see that 37 new law enforcement officers graduated from training in Calcasieu Parish on Thursday. It is important for us to understand that in order to keep the peace, we need good people at the front lines.

What is equally refreshing is to know there are still young people willing to find the time and make a career out of such jobs.

It speaks well to our safety in the coming years that this area still has a generation willing to make the commitment that is needed for our protection.

The new group that recently completed the Calcasieu Parish Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy will be heading out to various departments bringing with them not only the skills they learned, but the commitment they obviously had to protect the public.

While these ceremonies are often overlooked in other areas, they are just as important, if not more so, as college graduations and other similar events because these are the individuals who will make our hometowns better places.

Good policing should not just be limited to those who take the oath. It is important for us to understand that these individuals are only as good as the communities that back them.

It is up to us to not only ask for a strong law enforcement, but it is important to remember that we must take part in the process.

A community is only as good and as safe as those who lead it and those who take part in it. We are fortunate to have both people willing to take on these jobs and others willing to be part of the system to make this work for us.

So we wish these recent graduates good luck and great safety in their new positions while also holding them to the high standards they have sworn to follow.

(Rick Hickman/American Press)