From Aug. 28-30, Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal and Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman co-hosted a national corrections training event in New Orleans.

Presented by the National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO), the three days of training featured quality instructors from throughout the nation. Participants from 71 law enforcement agencies in 18 states received legal based training on corrections issues. Those who attended were able to choose from among 35 different instructional seminars designed to offer guidance to jail officials. This marked the sixth consecutive year the two sheriffs have hosted the training event.

The keynote speaker for the conference was NBA legend Karl Malone. A Ruston resident and graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Malone is known as “The Mailman” for his consistent delivery of quality play throughout his college and professional career. Drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1985, Malone was a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 14-time NBA All-Star and an 11-time member of the All-NBA first team. His 36,928 career points scored rank second all-time in NBA history and he is considered one of the best power forwards in NBA history. Malone effectively challenged all attendees to excellence, offering no-nonsense advice.

During the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the training event, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Haley was formally recognized as a Nationally Certified Corrections Executive in recognition of his long corrections career. In that career, he served as Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Alabama, warden of various jails, expert defense witness in corrections litigation throughout the nation and instructor for various agencies including the National Institute for Jail Operations, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Utah Sheriffs’ Association, the Utah Jail Commanders’ Certification Academy, the Alabama Sheriffs’ Association and other law enforcement and corrections agencies.

Haley instructed at the New Orleans training conference along with local attorneys Chuck Hughes and Ryan Davis of the Talley, Anthony, Hughes law firm in Mandeville. In addition, Haley will serve as an instructor at the upcoming Utah Sheriffs’ Association Training Conference in St. George, Utah.