Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer Deputy Mike Menard has been making Valentine’s Day extra special for the students at his assigned school, Woodvale Elementary, for three years running. Since back in 2020, Deputy Menard has raised funds and even reached into his own pocket to ensure every student at Woodvale Elementary feels extra special at least one day out of the year. Deputy Menard even goes as far as creating custom valentines for students with food allergies, translating them into Braille for students with sight impairments and caters to just about any other of the students' needs.

This past year, 2022, Deputy Menard organized a "Disguise a Badge" contest at the school. Students were allowed to customize their own Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office patch. The 31 winners of the competition each received a handmade customized "sheriff" cookie. The celebration also included a K9 demonstration for some of the younger students.

The above story is just one example of "Deputy Mike's" acts of kindness he continually displays throughout the school year. Deputy Menard actively participates in school clean up days where parents and students go to the school on a weekend and spruce up the campus. On any given day, you can find Deputy Menard walking the school campus, playing stack the cups with the kindergartens or even playing bean bag toss outside with the older kids. His dedication to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office as well as Woodvale Elementary School is unwavering.