Sheriff’s Office beats Fire Department in their 5th annual basketball game to benefit parish youth recreation programs; S.O. leads series 3-2

A shot goes up during the game.

The two teams fight over the ball.

In a hard-played game that was close until sheriff’s deputies pulled away in the final quarter, the Sheriff’s Office beat the Fire Department 77-65 in their 5th annual basketball game to benefit parish youth recreation programs.

The Sheriff’s Office now leads the series 3-2. The game was played Saturday night at the Chalmette High gym.

Dwayne Gref, head of the newly named St. Bernard Youth Booster Club, said proceeds will go to benefit parish youth recreation programs and some to efforts to fight breast cancer. Several players wore pink as part of their uniform in honor of it being breast cancer awareness month.

Gulf Coast Bank was the corporate sponsor of the annual event and was represented by Amanda Mones, who is also affiliated with the youth booster club.

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Sheriff’s Office to meet Fire Department in 5th annual benefit basketball game Saturday at 7 p.m. at Chalmette High gym

Basketballs will fly for pride and to benefit children’s recreation programs in St. Bernard Parish when the Sheriff’s Office meets the Fire Department in its fifth annual basketball game being played at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Chalmette High gym.

The series is now tied at 2-2, with the Sheriff’s Office winning in July 2011.

The public is invited, with tickets available at the door. Also, food and drinks will be sold.

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St. Bernard residents hold Night Out Against Crime gatherings at homes, churches, school

Sheriff James Pohlmann speaks to an audience at the recreation center at the Pentecostal Church in Chalmette.	Rosetta Santiago, seated bottom left, with friends at her National Night Out Against Crime party on Guerra Drive in Violet. At right is Sheriff’s Det. Sgt. Donald Johnson, assigned to answer any questions and give crime prevention tips.
Col. John Doran talks with Allen Bienvenu, a guest at a Night Out party.	Chris and Mary San Marco at their party on Terry Drive in Arabi.

Rosetta Santiago has lived in the 2400 block of Guerra Drive in Violet for about 37 years.

She said she began holding gatherings with friends and neighbors to celebrate the National Night Out Against Crime prior to Hurricane Katrina because she thought she needed to.

“It was bad around here then’’ because of criminal elements hanging in the area, Santiago said. “But we cleaned it up over the years. Now we want to keep it that way.’’

And that’s why she continues hosting get-togethers for National Night Out Against Crime, which was celebrated in St. Bernard Parish and neighboring parishes on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Several hundred St. Bernard residents turned out at homes, on the grounds of a Pentecostal church and at Nunez Community College in communities including Arabi, Chalmette, Meraux, Violet and Poydras.

Sheriff’s deputies attended each event to give crime prevention tips and answer questions.

Chris San Marco and his wife, Mary, who live on Terry Drive in Arabi, said they usually host a party for neighbors and friends as a sign that they care about the area.

“This is a quiet place,’’ Chris San Marco said. “The Sheriff’s Office has a good handle on things.’’ Mary San Marco added, “And we like to see our neighbors.’’

Sheriff James Pohlmann, attending many gatherings, said at one, “We have a great, safe community,” and added that fortunately there are low numbers of violent incidents – especially random ones involving people who don’t know one another.

An emphasis on combating drugs is a reason “you don’t see the same level of violence here there is in other places,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

But the sheriff said that like everywhere in the nation, drugs are a problem. He told a crowd at the Pentecostal Church on West St. Bernard Highway at Palmisano Drive, where a party for youngsters and adults is held each year to celebrate National Night Out, that most crime today is driven by people looking to steal to support their drug abuse problem.

He encouraged people to always call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods.

The sheriff drew a round of applause when he told the group the Sheriff’s Office rounded up more than 40 drug-dealers in a sweep on Sept. 20 following months of investigation.

Such arrests mean criminals aren’t on the streets to commit burglaries and thefts to get money, Sheriff Pohlmann said, adding if you put a dent in the drug trade you stop property crimes.

Pohlmann also said he believes, “Drug dealers need to go to jail. Users need help,’’ saying he supports drug prevention education in schools as part of a curriculum, beyond just the D.A.R.E. dug prevention measures taught by sheriff’s deputies at parish schools.

This was the 6th year since the hurricane that the Sheriff’s Office has participated in the National Night Out Against Crime celebration.

Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office and head of the Neighborhood Watch program, said the parish continues to see residents having parties for the Night Out Against Crime.

“People are focusing on neighborhood safety,’’ Borchers said. “We at the Sheriff’s Office want to work hand-in-hand with the people and we think participation by the public in such things as National Night Out Against Crime, Neighborhood Watch and the free Citizens Police Academy offered by the Sheriff’s Office is a show of their support to work with us.’’

St. Bernard residents should call Borchers at (504) 278-7628 if interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group in their area, or in signing up for the next free sessions of the Refuse to be a Victim series and the Citizens Police Academy. Borchers also can give tips about upcoming holiday shopping safety.

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Class of Citizens Police Academy use firearms simulator to make split-second decisions on whether to shoot a suspect: Call 278-7628 to take the course

Gerald Grosch of Meraux, at right, is handed a 90-pound bomb squad jacket from Sgt. Stephen Ingargiola during a display of bomb squad equipment.	Members of the class of the sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy Christine Foret, at right, and Jimmy Beeson, both of Chalmette, hold non-firing guns as they prepare to watch a video in a firearms simulator program which calls for them to make a split-second decision on whether to shoot a criminal suspect.
Sheriff’s Bomb Squad members are shown with the department’s bomb robot for investigating suspicious items. From left are Sgt. Chris Scheeler, Bomb Squad commander Maj. Mark Poche, Capt. Daniel Doucet and Sgt. Stephen Ingargiola. All perform other duties with the Sheriff’s Office as well as Bomb Squad operations.	Tina Gioe of Chalmette points a gas gun for firing tear gas during a demonstration of Sheriff’s Office weapons to the Citizens Police Academy class.
Maj. David DiMaggio, head of training for the Sheriff’s Office is shown in silhouette against a screen used in the firearms simulator program as he explains the device for participants in the Citizens Police Academy class.	Karen Coombs of Arabi, in the foreground, and Terri Guate of St. Bernard, in the background, point their guns at a screen that will show them computerized videos and call for them to decide whether to shoot a criminal suspect in the firearms simulator program.

None of them were sheriff’s deputies and don’t want to be but they had real enough-looking weapons in their hands.

And when computerized videos of situations a real officer might face blared on a screen in front of them they had to make a split-second decision: shoot a criminal suspect or hold their fire – the same one an actual officer might have to make.

“It was awesome ’’ said Christine Foret of Chalmette, one of about 40 St. Bernard Parish residents who were recently introduced to what is called a firearms simulator – which is used for actual police training. She is a member of the current class of the Sheriff’s Office’s free Citizens Police Academy.

“It’s the first time I’ve done something like this and it was interesting,’’ Foret said after her turn with a weapon. She said she took the class to learn more about the parish and law enforcement and said she believes, “It gives you an idea of what a police officer would go through.’’

The 10-week course, conducted by Capt. Charles Borchers, is designed to show parish residents what law enforcement is like and give them a chance to ask questions related to the subject.

“I thought it was great,’’ said Al Barrilleaux of Chalmette, another member of the class. “You don’t know what to expect’’ when a video comes on.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said, “We think this course gives participants a real feel for police work. Residents see what officers have to deal with and the decisions they may have to make.’’

Of the firearms simulator, Maj. David DiMaggio, head of training for the Sheriff’s Office, told participants. “This is about as realistic as we can make it for you.’’

Two members of the class at a time are armed with non-firing type guns and view a video of officers on a call and see various situations. It might include a motorist pulling a weapon at a traffic stop or a domestic battery scene or even hostage situations.

Then the person with the gun is called upon to decide if they would use deadly force on a suspect in the situation.

Borrowed from the state Attorney General’s Office, the computerized training simulator has been a popular feature of the Citizens Police Academy course for years, Borchers said.

More than 500 residents have gone through the Citizens Police Academy class since its introduction some 10 years ago.

Trina Bondio of Chalmette said she would recommend others take the class because, “It’s hands-on and you can ask questions. There are things you never knew about.”

Also, Bondio was intrigued after seeing displays of weapons and equipment such as a bomb robot to check suspicious items, a less-than-lethal shotgun which fires bean bags so a suspect isn’t killed and a chemical weapon gun that can tear gas.

Bondio said, “It makes you feel safe here because I didn’t know the Sheriff’s Office has this type of equipment and officers who know what to do with it.”

Anyone interested in taking the free Citizens Police Academy course the next time it is offered should contact Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.

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Two men booked in St. Bernard with armed robbery of a man they said they believed was a drug-dealer

Michael Ford, also booked with armed robbery in Violet.

Jordan Jones, booked in armed robbery in Violet.

Owen Busam, arrested as a fugitive from Colorado, where he was wanted on a sex crime charge.

The two recovered guns used in the robbery. St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office photo.

Two men were booked in St. Bernard Parish with armed robbery and with discharging a weapon on Friday, minutes after the incident on a Violet street, and later confessed they targeted the victim because they believed he was a drug-dealer, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Jordan Jones, 18, of New Orleans, and Michael Ford, 24, 3513 Evangeline St., Chalmette, were arrested in Chalmette just after 3 p.m. when a car they were riding in was spotted by Capt. Ronnie Martin, then they fled on foot but were captured, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Two guns, one of them reported stolen, and more than $200 allegedly taken from a man on a Violet street were recovered, the sheriff said. Jones was also booked with possession of a stolen gun and both were also booked with flight from officers.

He said no one was injured but Jones discharged a gun in the air to scare the victim as they stole the money. The Sheriff’s Office was called about the shot fired.

The arrested suspects confessed to the robbery and said they targeted the man they robbed because they believed he was a drug-dealer with cash. No drugs were recovered and the sheriff said there was no evidence of drug activity to arrest anyone else.

Both Jones and Ford are being held without bond in St. Bernard Parish Prison.

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Sheriff Pohlmann videotapes messages for parish students about not texting and driving or drinking and driving; He and Maj. Clark are also interviewed on the hazards of drug abuse for young people

With an emphasis on helping young people make good decisions, Sheriff James Pohlmann has videotaped messages for parish students about not texting and driving or drinking and driving.

Also, the sheriff and Maj. Chad Clark, commander of Special Investigations which includes the Narcotics Unit, were interviewed for the school system about the hazards of drug abuse among the young.

Messages will soon be running on the broadcast system for parish schools, said Charles Cassar, Drug-Free Schools Coordinator for St. Bernard public schools.

The messages and interviews are being used as a kickoff for the annual Red Ribbon Week in the schools, Oct. 22-26, which emphasis a drug prevention for students as part of an overall message of young people making good decision to help their futures.

The program is under the guidance of Charles Cassar, who interviewed Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark on drug abuse, especially among the young. They discussed how it starts, what it can lead to and the difficulty of recovery once someone becomes addicted, especially to hard drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine.

Sheriff Pohlmann said in his message on drunk driving, said that in his 29 years in law enforcement he has seen many tragic stories of young people dying in auto accidents because of driving drunk or drugged.

The sheriff said, “It all comes down to people making bad decisions which affect their future, causing death to themselves or others, sadness for families and possibly arrest and jail time.’’

“Instead, work to be a life-saver,” in the community.

Sheriff Pohlmann also said, “You will hear and see many people talking with you about how drug and alcohol abuse will destroy your life and your loved ones,’’ he said. “Please listen to them now during Red Ribbon Week and for the rest of your life.

“Remember … when you become a life-saver, the life you save just may be your own.”

The slogan, “Participate – Be a Life-Saver,’’ is also being used as a theme for groups of St. Bernard parents, school officials, business leaders, the medical community, churches, the judiciary, the Sheriff’s Office, Parish Government and others to band together to commit to a drug-free community.

It is debuting for Red Ribbon Week but will continue afterward.

The group, with input from Dan Schneider, a pharmacist who lost a son years ago to violence related to drug abuse, has adopted a resolution on the importance of parents and other parish residents focusing on trying to reduce as much as possible drug abuse through educational efforts, re-hab treatment for users and prison time for drug-dealers.

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Parish’s 911 Communications Center dedicated and renamed for Sheriff’s Col. Jerry Rathburn, who died April 21 and was driving force behind modern system

Sheriff’s Col. Gerald “Jerry’’ Rathburn, who died of an illness April 21, is considered the driving force behind St. Bernard Parish’s modern 911 emergency system and on Monday, Oct. 8, he received his due – the dedication and renaming of the Chalmette building in his honor.

Trudy M. Rathburn, his widow, cut the ribbon with Sheriff James Pohlmann at the site in the 8000 block of West St. Bernard Highway which bears his name. The building originally opened in July 2004, built by businessman Charles Bienvenue and was renovated after flooding in Hurricane Katrina.

“I think it looks vice nice, I didn’t expect this,’’ said Mrs. Rathburn as she looked up at the new lettering at the top of the 911 Center as she stood with family members who attended a ceremony.

Also there were about 50 people from the Sheriff’s Office, parish government, State Police, Acadian Ambulance and those who served with Rathburn on the parish’s 911 Communications District, for which Rathburn was technical adviser.

Parish President David Peralta and the Parish Council honored the memory of Rathburn with a proclamation given to his window last May, attended by numerous Sheriff’s Office representatives.

Rathburn passed away at 80, still working. After retiring from private business he had served in numerous capacities for the Sheriff’s Office, including head of the Communications and Technology Divisions and its Reserve Division.

“He loved his job. He never would have quit,’’ Mrs. Rathburn said after his death.

Sheriff Pohlmann, President Peralta and Fire Chief Thomas Stone, all said Jerry Rathburn will always be missed in St. Bernard Parish.

“We wanted to make sure his is never forgotten,’’ the sheriff said of renaming the 911 Center in his honor. “Jerry worked behind the scenes for many years and he had a big impact on law enforcement under three sheriffs and played an important role in our modern 911 system,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“He was the brains behind what we have today,’’ including the inter-operable radio system that allows various entities such as the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and others to communicate with each other, the sheriff said. “What we have today is a tribute to Jerry Rathburn.”

Peralta, who worked with him both at the Sheriff’s Office and as CAO at parish government, said, “Jerry wouldn’t compromise’’ on what was needed for the 911 Center. “This is such a tribute to him.”

Stone said, “It’s fitting’’ to honor Rathburn for his work. “It will be nice to pass this building and see his name on it.’’

For years, Rathburn was responsible for the 911 emergency system, and computer, radio and telephone systems of the Sheriff’s Office. He had worked for years in private business before joining the Sheriff’s Office in 1987 and had been a member of the Reserve Division before he headed it for years.

He also was a Marine Corp. veteran of the Korean Conflict.

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St. Bernard Parish groups band together to commit to a drug-free community under the slogan: “Participate – Be a Life-Saver”; They are using the annual drug-prevention Red Ribbon Week in the schools, Oct. 15-19, as a kickoff for the effort

There’s more than one way to be a life-saver.

Certainly, firefighters, police officers, doctors, paramedics save lives. But so can a teacher who connects with a student and guides them back from a road that could have led to their personal destruction. So can parents, clergy, service organizations, mentors of young people, as well as numerous other examples in everyday life.

And so also can a community be a life-saver, when it is staring in the face of an epidemic and bands together to stop it.

That’s the way many groups in St. Bernard Parish are reacting to the threat of drug abuse in our parish.

Parents, school officials, business leaders, the medical community, churches, the judiciary, the Sheriff’s Office, Parish Government, for example, are banding together to commit to a drug-free community under the slogan: “Participate – Be a Life-Saver.”

They are using the annual Red Ribbon Week in the schools, Oct. 15-19, as a kickoff for the effort. The week will see an emphasis on getting across a drug prevention message to students, under the guidance of Charles Cassar, Drug-free Schools Coordinator.

A driving force of the “Participate – Be a Life-Saver’’ move has been Dan Schneider, a pharmacist who years ago lost a son to violence related to drug abuse; and is supported by Sheriff James Pohlmann, Schools Superintendent Doris Voitier, Parish Government and Maj. Chad Clark, head of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division which includes the Narcotics Unit as well as others in the community.

The group adopted a resolution on the importance of parents and other parish residents focusing on trying to reduce as much as possible drug abuse through educational efforts, re-hab treatment for users and prison time for drug-dealers.

Some points of the resolution include:

“In an effort to work toward a drug-free community:

“We as a Community are making a statement that we are strongly committed to working towards a Drug Free Community. Our efforts are important. We can save lives, reduce crime and accidents, lower insurance cost, improve our quality of life, increase our property values. The life you save may be your friend, student, your child or grandchild. Participate. Be a Lifesaver.

“Alcohol, which some may not understand is a drug, and other drug abuse in our parish and nation has reached epidemic stages (nationally 133,300 premature drug related deaths a year or 1 death every 4 minutes), and the 15-24 year old age group is dying at a faster rate than any other age group.

“Drug abuse and addiction is the primary cause for most of our community’s crime, many of our accidents, destruction of productive lives and family tragedies.

“It is imperative that visible, unified prevention education efforts by community members be launched to reduce the demand for drugs; while supporting our police in drug reduction efforts.

“St. Bernard Parish School Board will lead the efforts of our community by improving drug education and prevention, by embedding lessons in elementary, middle, and throughout high school courses.

“The biggest jump in the risk of teen drug use occurs when a child moves from middle to high school; we will increase our education efforts in 9th grade. We will cover understanding drugs and the biological and psychological destructive effects they cause on their developing brain, reasons teens try and use drugs, understanding drug addiction and its consequences, how help can be gotten, social responsibility, personal responsibility and non –violent conflict resolution.

“We will provide to parents take-home information and web sites information to encourage parental involvement.

“Included with traditional efforts to educate and encourage students to remain drug-free, we want to educate and encourage students to become advocates against drug use. We want to educate and encourage why it is a social responsibility to report drug use, drug dealing and criminal activity (anonymously if preferable) to help parents, teachers, adult authorities, or police; reduce drug destruction.

“We will encourage and support drug addiction treatment, rehab in and out of jail; and drug court like programs The goal is to help create a drug free and reduced crime community and to save lives.”

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Children at Kids Safety Day played games, took part in workshops and saw items including a robot from the Sheriff’s Office and a safety house from the Fire Dept.

Mark Ragas came to the Kids Safety Day in a fire chief outfit.	Ava Westerfield reacts to a skelton dressed in a Home Depot apron.
Chase Aronolie, with mother Krystal Aranolie who works in Chalmette, gets a boost up from Fire Dept. Capt. Rory Miller to look into the Fire Safety House used to teach children how to drop and roll on the floor to escape a burning building in thick smoke.	Justin Frazier from the St. Bernard community tests the sheriff’s bomb robot used to check out suspicious items, in this case a D.A.R.E. anti-drug program bumper sticker the boy held.
Sheriff James Pohlmann with Jacob Hebert of Chalmette, who just received a Junior Deputy pin, and Jacob’s father, Gary Hebert.	Capt. Bret Bowen with children who just received Junior Deputy pins and other items.

The annual Kids’ Safety Day on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Home Depot Store in Chalmette had games, a workshop, food and special items displayed such as a robot from the Sheriff’s Office and a safety house from the Fire Department.

Children of all ages, accompanied by parents or guardians participated in the free annual event, said Tammy Hentze, operations manager of the Home Depot store on West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

Special items also on display for children and adults included Sheriff’s Office equipment such as a robot used to check out suspicious items, SWAT team uniforms for children to try on, Drren the Lion – mascot for the D.A.R.E. ant0-drug program and a mobile safety house from the Fire Department to show kids how to drop and roll to escape a burning building.

There was also a roll-over car from State Police to demonstrate the danger of not wearing seat belts, which are required by lawm and the mobile command center from parish government’s Homeland Security.

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An additional half-pound of meth worth $35,000 recovered in case where man was arrested for murder Oct. 2 and 10 pounds of meth worth $500,000 seized

Another half-pound of meth worth $35,000 was recovered in Chalmette on Friday, Oct. 5, in a case where one man was arrested for murder Oct. 2 and 10 pounds of meth worth $500,000 and $32,000 cash had been seized, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Sheriff’s narcotics agents have continued to work the case since the arrest of a 17-year male suspect booked with one count of first-degree murder of a man he recently traveled with to Chalmette from North Carolina, and attempted murder of the dead man’s brother, the sheriff said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the two came to join up with the brother of the man killed, who had been living in eastern St. Bernard for some time, to help him in a large-scale meth conspiracy that was already distributing the drug in the New Orleans area.

The recovery of the additional more than half a pound of meth is tied to the murder case, Sheriff Pohlmann said, and narcotics agents continue to look into whether there is still more drugs or cash around. The Sheriff’s Office didn’t say where the latest stash of drugs was located.

The 10 pounds of meth found in the initial investigation of the murder was the largest amount of the drug ever seized in St. Bernard Parish.

Jorge Ramirez was arrested the same day Leandro Morales De La Cruz, 32, was found shot to death in a half-double he and Ramirez had rented only a week earlier in the 8500 block of Regiment Drive in Chalmette. Also, Ramirez attempted to kill the dead man’s brother, Martin De La Cruz, 26, by striking him in the head with a blunt object, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Cruz survived and has been taken into custody.

Ramirez is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $1.5 million.

“The motive for the killing was to steal the narcotics’’ that had been brought to Chalmette for safekeeping as it was being distributed in the New Orleans area, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He said Ramirez has confessed he killed the man he came here with, tried to kill the brother already living here, and took the meth he knew about and intended to go back to the Red Springs, N.C., area where he and the murder victim had just come from.

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