Crimestoppers, which provides tips leading to arrests in St. Bernard and elsewhere, postpones its planned Sept. 22 fund-raiser, a road race on Canal Street, but will reschedule for later this year

Because of Hurricane Isaac and its aftermath, the group Crimestoppers, which provides tips leading to arrests in St. Bernard and the rest of the New Orleans area, has postponed its planned Sept. 22 fund-raiser, a road race on Canal Street.

But its President and CEO Darlene Cusanza said the non-profit will reschedule the event for later this year and announce a new date shortly.

The continuing aftermath of Isaac made it difficult for many groups, including law enforcement organizations which work with Crimestoppers, to focus on a fund-raiser at this time, Cusanza said.

St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann was among law enforcement, business leaders and the New Orleans Saints organization atteneding a news conference July 13 to voice support for fund-raising efforts for Crimestoppers Inc..

Robin also directed Jackson to a vacant lot near his residence where a gun Robin stolen in the incidents was recovered, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The group, operating from Metairie, has helped solve 12,000 crimes in 30 years by offering rewards for tips.

Crimestoppers is partnering with a realtors group for a 5-K road race to try to raise $50,000. The money would make up for national and state funding cuts that threaten the group’s youth crime prevention programs and student leadership programs, Cusanza said.

Pohlmann, who was among several who spoke at a news conference including Orleans District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and Orleans Sheriff Marlin Gusman, said, “We are a big supporter of Crimestoppers,’’ which has received many tips that have helped solve crimes in St. Bernard, he said.

The sheriff endorsed the idea of businesses sponsoring the foot race to help raise money for Crimestoppers as well as getting behind a new program whereby the public can make a pledge to the group in memory of a crime victim.

Crimestoppers can be reached at (504) 837-8477 and tips involving wanted suspects can be made to the group at (504) 822-1111.

Sheriff Pohlmann said he hopes St. Bernard groups could help Crimestoppers if possible.

He said, “We are fortunate to have a safe community in St. Bernard and appreciate the help Crimestoppers gives us to keep it that way.”

The group has supplied tips leading to arrests in St. Bernard, based in its rewards program. “We are in this with them for the long haul,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

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Annual Day of Reflection, postponed from its usual Aug. 29 date because of Isaac, held Wednesday at Chalmette High School

Sheriff James Pohlomann and other representatives of the Sheriff’s Office took part Wednesday in the annual Hurricane Katrina Day of Reflection breakfast at Chalmette High School remembering the 7th anniversary of the storm, with the event postponed from its usual Aug. 29 date because of Hurricane Isaac. Shown, Sheriff Pohlmann is at the head table talking with Joseph DiFatta, while from left are Superintendent of Schools Doris Voitier, guest speaker Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., and Parish President David Peralta. Also, Voitier speaks to audience members which included numerous current and former parish elected officials. At another table are sheriff’s officials, from left, Capt. Andre Dominick of the Juvenile Detention Center, Kelly Devenport, Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy and Commander of Operations Col. John Doran. Also, clockwise at a table are Jackie Lucia and JoAnn Lane of the Civil Division, Director of Administration John Vickers, Maj. Mark Poche, Capt. Wayne Babin, Maj. Adolph “Junior’’ Kreger, Maj. Robert McNab and Maj. Chad Clark. Also, Maj. David DiMaggio, foreground, Joseph DiFatta and Capt. Charles Borchers are shown.

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St. Bernard man booked with six counts of looting vehicles during the storm and possession of firearm by a felon; Was tied to one burglary by a fingerprint

A St. Bernard Parish man with an extensive history of felony arrests and who is on probation for 12 years has been booked with six counts of looting vehicles during the period of Hurricane Isaac and with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Daryl Robin, 28, 2022 Myrtle Grove St., Meraux, has more than 50 felony arrests and was tied to the string of burglaries in the Jumonville South subdivision by a matching fingerpint lifted in one of the vehicles, Sheriff Pohlmann said. A gun stolen in one burglary was also recovered.

The sheriff said Robin, who was already a suspect before the print was matched, admitted under questioning by Det. Capt. Mark Jackson after an investigation by Det. Sgt. Paul Miller, that he committed the burglaries in the early morning hours of Aug. 31.

Robin said he was on prescription drugs at the time of the break-ins. State Probation and Parole Agent Richard Weidenhaft and Jackson confronted Robin at the suspect’s residence after the match of the fingerprint.

Robin also directed Jackson to a vacant lot near his residence where a gun Robin stolen in the incidents was recovered, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Robin was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison and is being held on the six looting counts, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and as a probation violator.

No bond has been set.

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St. Bernard S.O. is no Mayberry P.D., Sheriff Pohlmann tells new class of Citizens Police Academy; 40 residents taking 14th course on police work since 1999

Capt. Charles Borchers, who conducts the classes, speaks to its members.

Maj. David DiMaggio, head of Training for the department, also spoke at the opening session.

“We are not Mayberry’’ Sheriff James Pohlmann told a new session of the sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy, in describing how St. Bernard Parish may have a small-town feel to it but its law enforcement officers are well-trained and the department has top-notch equipment.

His reference was to the fictional sleepy town of Mayberry, N.C., and its two-man police force, Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife, as depicted in the old “Andy Griffith Show’’ that ran on television for a decade in the 1960s and ‘70s.

“We still have a little Mayberry feel’’ in St. Bernard, a relatively small parish now in which the Sheriff’s Office enjoys good cooperation with parish residents, the sheriff said.

“You may be surprised at how professional our operation is,’’ Pohlmann told the Citizens Police Academy group at its first session the night of Sept. 5. The group will meet once a week at Nunez Community College through graduation night in November.

He said all but one of the sheriff’s top command staff, including Sheriff Pohlmann, are graduates of the FBI National Training Academy, “something I’m very proud of.’’
Sheriff’s Office equipment, most of it obtained with money from grants from Homeland Security or the Justice Department, is top-of-the –line, including a crime scene van, a bomb robot for investigating suspicious items, a mobile tower to look over crowd scenes such as parades or fairs, and Marine Division boats and sonar.

Training is a top priority for the department, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Maj. David DiMaggio, who heads training for the Sheriff’s Office, spoke to the academy class on its first session.

Sheriff Pohlmann also discussed what he has done since taking office, July 1, including reorganizing the department’s rank structure to make it more efficient, chopping away at a deficit through a combination of a hiring freeze which has resulted in fewer employees as some have retired or left.

Also budget cuts were achieved by cuts in the budget in many ways including not allowing department vehicles to be taken home by any employee who lives outside the parish.

The sheriff also said, “We as a society will never be rid of crime but we think we can stay one step ahead of it and you can have a better understanding of law enforcement and what needs to be done to suppress crime.’’

This is the 14th session of Citizens Police Academy since it began in 1999 as a mechanism for the public to learn about police work in St. Bernard, interact with officers and ask questions about any concerns. Some 550 residents have participated since its inception.

More than 60 residents registered to take part in the latest Police Citizens Academy class, conducted by Capt. Charles Borchers, head of Community Relations, Neighborhood Watch and the Reserve Division of the Sheriff’s Office.

The public can reach Borchers at (504) 278-7628 to start a Neighborhood Watch group or register for free classes given by the Sheriff’s Office, including the “Refuse to be a Victim’’ series.

There are numerous features to the Citizens Police Academy such as: hearing from sheriff’s commanders on various phases of law enforcement including patrol work, narcotics enforcement; detective duties; SWAT team demonstrations; receiving boating safety tips; hearing from law enforcement agencies from outside St. Bernard; touring Parish Prison.

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