Oklahoma Post 337 provides site for local police training

When Talala (Okla.) Police Chief Ronald Eaton was looking for a site to host training for his department’s auxiliary officers, he turned to American Legion Higeons-Clemmens Post 337 for help.

“Our post has a great working relationship with our city leaders and provide our facility quite often for meetings and other activities,” said SAL Detachment of Oklahoma NECman Chris Cook. “Because we are a small community, there is no other facility other than churches that can handle larger gatherings.

“He explained the requirements and time frame that they were looking at and after presenting it to the post membership, we offered our facility at no charge for their training needs.”

The Talala Police Basic Reserve Academy met at the post almost every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening, as well as three or four weekends, from October 2022 through January 2023. The cadets also made a few improvements to the post, including replacing a toilet and light bulbs and assisting with weekly cleaning.

“We appreciate the post and the members for allowing our cadets to meet and use the facilities,” Eaton said. “The training we received and the friendships that were made were only possible by you allowing us to use the building and that can never be repaid.”

“The benefits that the post was able to gain with our participation was immediate,” Cook said. “We were extremely surprised and pleased with their results.”