LA DOTD Traffic Summit

 

 

 

 

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St. Bernard Community Coalition has formed with a goal of reducing illegal drug use in the parish and to help users find treatment programs

A new group, the St. Bernard Community Coalition, has been formed with a goal of reducing illegal drug use in the parish and help users find treatment programs.

“We’re here to save lives,’’ said Coalition Chairman Dan Schneider, a pharmacist whose son was a victim of drug-related violence

A 12-member board of directors has been chosen, consisting of a cross-section of parish leaders and interests.

Included on the board are Schneider, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Parish President David Peralta, Schools Superintendent Doris Voitier, Barbara Manuel, Justice of the Peace and long-time community activist in Violet; Pastor Otto Martin, Coroner Dr. Bryan Bertucci, Floyd Gue of the Meraux Foundation, sheriff’s Maj. Chad Clark, head of the Special Investigations Division which includes narcotics enforcement; Berridel J. Johnson, retired Postal Service employee and an ordained pastor; Joseph DiFatta, former Parish Council Chairman, Chairman of the Parish Economic Development Foundation and board member of the Chamber of Commerce; and Kenny Zulli Sr. of The St. Bernard Parish Post weekly newspaper. There are also two alternates – school system administrator Charles Cassar and Kerry Poche Sr., supervisor of the community service work program operated by the St. Bernard Parish Probation Office.

Also, Polly Campbell, former Clerk of the Parish Council, retired teacher and activist in parish beautification efforts, was announced as the professional program director for the Coalition, which is a part-time position.

Schneider also announced the Coalition has been awarded a $50,000 federal mentoring grant to begin basic operations to build on, including to help acquire further resources. “We have a great board, with many key players as well as many more interested parties,’’ he said.

A priority will be to make it easier for parents of abusers or abusers themselves to find and afford rehabilitation programs.

In a statement on the forming of the Coalition, Schneider said, “We are proud to announce the formation of St. Bernard Community Coalition, Too many have suffered death or destruction of productive lives due to drug-related tragedies and crime.

“This must be curtailed, just as surely as the effects of coastal erosion have to be addressed for this parish to have a base to stand on. Our inability to act in a cohesive manner on drug abuse has not helped our community’s well-being, nor our economic recovery.

“Our schools are performing well, even great in many ways, but the community is hurting due to drug abuse and accidental overdose deaths. As Sheriff Pohlmann has pointed out, drug use leads to property crime as users look for ways to get money to continue using. In sum, if we get a handle on drugs we lower crime and save people from destroying not just their lives but the lives of their family members who love them.

“Our main goal of the St. Bernard Community Coalition is to get all involved in the solutions necessary to reduce this plight. We are all in this together. We can be Life-Savers.

“We, with the support of all interested parties, will make concerted efforts to reduce the drug problem, particularly with adolescents of St. Bernard. Their brains are not fully developed and real short-term and long-term damage occurs with drug use/abuse, which includes under-age alcohol use.

“A long-range goal is also to make St. Bernard more attractive to its current residents as a good place to live and raise a family, but also to attract newcomers and grow our middle class. We believe this effort will help keep our best and brightest here and will attract a new generation of St. Bernardians who will learn our culture and help our community achieve its hopes and dreams. We believe our efforts will lift all boats.

“We must remember, even in the darkest of tunnels, we can be the light at its end. We call this the “Tunnel of Hope.”

“It will take some time, effort, and perseverance; but with God’s help anything is possible. For the frustrated who can’t see the light, we must remember this old statement: How do you eat an elephant? Answer – one bite at a time!

“We need to work, hope, and pray that our efforts will lead our community forward in a continuing positive direction.”

The Coalition board also has approved a resolution to work toward a drug-free community that it wants to distribute through schools, churches, businesses and the rest of the community. The resolution stresses the importance of parents and other parish residents focusing on trying to reduce drug abuse through educational efforts, re-habilitation treatment for users and prison time for drug-dealers.

“We are asking the community to participate in a commitment to work towards a drug-free community,’’ Schneider said.

Coalition officials have met twice to lay the groundwork and a common thread among members’ opinions was the need for more resources for information and education for parents and St. Bernard youth, primarily in our schools at all grade levels. Also discussed was the positive and negative influences of parents and how environmental factors can be barriers to progress in reducing drug use.

Members said they want efforts at treatment of and recovery from drug abuse, along with compassionate yet firm enforcement of narcotics laws to make St. Bernard Parish a more desirable place to live. Sheriff Pohlmann has stressed users deserve a chance for rehabilitation but drug-dealers need prison time because they will destroy lives purely to gain a profit.

Here are the points of the Community Coalition resolution that has been approved:

“We commit to the following:

“Because alcohol, 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, and

“Because drug abuse and addiction is a primary cause for most of our community’s crime, many of our accidents, destruction of productive lives and family tragedies, and

“Because we are all in this together, our community will increase prevention and education efforts to reduce the demand for drugs. We will support the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office to seek rehab for drug users and prison for drug-dealers. Parents will be included and be motivated to talk with their children about the dangers of drug use.

“Our schools, with help from police and our community, will lead our efforts by improving drug education and prevention, by embedding lessons throughout grades 1-12, and

“Because the biggest jump in the risk of teen drug use occurs when a child moves from middle to high school, we will put special emphasis on 9th grade. We will cover understanding drugs and the biological and psychological destructive effects they cause on a developing brain, the reasons teens try drugs, understanding drug addiction and its consequences, non-violent conflict resolution, personal and social responsibility.

“Also, along with traditional efforts to educate and encourage students to remain drug-free, we want them to become advocates against drug use and give them anonymous ways to report drug use or dealing and other criminal activity to help parents, teachers, or police reduce destruction caused by drugs. They will be considered heroes for this.

“We will not tolerate drug abuse and/or dealing and as adults we will report drug activity, drug-dealing and all criminal activity and consider such actions to be heroic. Everyone can be a Life-Saver.

“We will encourage and support drug addiction treatment programs, drug courts for those whose criminal activity stems from drugs, rehab in and out of jail and other measures to help those addicted return as welcome, productive community members.

“Therefore, we as a community commit to be Life-Savers and will work towards a drug-free community. Our efforts are important. With God’s help, we can save lives, reduce crime and accidents, lower insurance costs, improve our quality of life and increase our property values. The life you save may be your friend, student, your child, grandchild, or even yours, Remember, we are all in this together. Participate. Be a Life-Saver.’’

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Two teen-agers arrested for arson and burglary in fire which destroyed a Chalmette miniature car and racing business operating out of a parish-owned gym; Both also booked with separate burglary and attempted fire

Michael Riedel, 18, arrested in burglary and arson fire and burglary in Chalmette.

Brandon Ricouard, 17, also arrested in fire and burglary.

Two St. Bernard Parish teen-agers have been arrested for arson and burglary in a Monday fire which destroyed a Chalmette miniature car and racing business operating out of a parish-owned gym and both also were booked with a separate burglary of a car on Tuesday, attempted arson of the car and possession of stolen property, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Michael Riedel, 18, 2237 Venus Place, Violet, and Brandon Ricouard, 17, of Evangeline Drive in Chalmette, broke into the Victory Lane hobby shop in the old Vista Park playground gym in Chalmette early Sept. 9 while looking for money, Sheriff Pohlmann said. They stole $30 and also took a memory card for a digital camera, then set the place on fire to cover their break-in, the sheriff said.

But the sheriff said it turned out the memory card was a key piece of evidence leading to their arrests when sheriff’s detectives found the card – containing photos of the miniature vehicle race track that was operated out of the gym – after the teen-agers were stopped following a call about suspicious people behind a Chalmette business on Tuesday evening.

The card, along with a handgun that was in poor condition and a flashlight, was found in a Chalmette motel the two had been staying in after the mother of one teen, who had rented the room, gave officers permission to search it, the sheriff said.

After the teens were initially stopped on the suspicious persons complaint they said they had been out selling several cell phones to a business that buys used phones.

The phones they sold were soon identified as coming from a car burglarized early Tuesday morning on a cross street from Paris Road and in that incident the burglars, who also had attempted to set fire to the car but the fire went out, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Seeing a possible connection to the hobby shop burglary and fire, sheriff’s detectives learned the teen-agers had been staying at a motel and obtained the mother’s permission to search their room, leading to the discovery of the memory card. One of the owners of the hobby shop identified the photos of the race track as ones he had taken with his camera, the sheriff said.

“It was good police work and everything fell into place,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said of the investigation leading to the arrests.

Under questioning, Riedel admitted to both burglaries, the arson fire and the attempted arson, the sheriff said, and Riedel said Ricouard was also present.

Riedel, who was out on bond from a recent arrest for possession of illegal psychedelic mushrooms, and Ricouard are both being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds set at $76,000 each. They are both booked with two counts of burglary, arson, attempted arson and possession of stolen property.

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Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and state Fire Marshal’s Office investigating suspicious fire that destroyed a Chalmette miniature car and racing business operating out of old parish Vista gym

St. Bernard Parish’s Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office, as well as the state Fire Marshal’s Office, are involved in the investigation of an early Monday morning suspicious fire which destroyed a miniature vehicle and racing business operating out of the old Vista Park playground gym owned by the parish, authorities said.

Fire Chief Thomas Stone said the blaze, reported about 3:20 a.m. by a resident who said they thought they heard an explosion, was under control by firefighters within 45 minutes.

No one was injured.

Stone said the fire was largely confined to a room that formerly was the concession stand when the gym was open but for the last year has housed a business leasing the space as the Victory Lane hobby business. The business sold and rented miniature, mostly remote controlled, vehicles and held races inside the gym. The gym had some fire damage, the fire chief said.

“They lost all their inventory,’’ in the fire, Chief Stone said.

The fire chief also said the cause of the blaze is under investigation and said the state fire Marshal’s Office was brought in because the building is owned by parish government.

Sheriff’s detectives are also investigating the break-in of the business.

Anyone with information in the case should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 and they could be eligible for a reward if they have information which leads to an arrest.

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St. Bernard man arrested in N.O. by U.S. Marshal’s Service for attempted murder and robbery of his cousin, who was shot twice in Violet on Aug. 31

A St. Bernard Parish man was arrested in New Orleans early Monday morning by a U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force for attempted murder and armed robbery of his cousin, who was shot twice in Violet the night of Aug. 31 and is recovering, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Dalvin Major, 18, of Violet, fled St. Bernard Parish after he shot his cousin, Dominique Johnson, 23, also of Violet, and robbed him of his wallet, the sheriff said. Major was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by a St. Bernard Parish judge.

Major was captured in New Orleans by a U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force of which the Sheriff’s Office has a deputy who is a member of the group, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Major was being held in New Orleans pending his transfer to St. Bernard Parish Prison, the sheriff said.

The suspect has a criminal history that includes arrests for drugs and gun charges.

Johnson was hospitalized after he was shot in the lower torso and a thigh the night of Aug. 31 on a street in Violet, He is now recovering. He identified Major as the assailant, saying his cousin shot him after a conversation and robbed him of his wallet.

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S.O. trains in active-shooter exercises involving response to armed intruders, such as in businesses, schools or public areas

Assistant Training Director Lt. Raymond Theriot points as Dep. Sheriff Nicole Miller, left, and Reserve Division Dep. Matthew White prepare to advance into an area.

From left, Dep. Sheriffs Randy Scheuermann, holding the gun, Darlene Langsford, Lacye Lulei and Chelsie Soulagnet prepare to advance into a room to search for a possible active-shooter.

Sheriff’s deputies, from left, Debrecca Richard, Joseph Warren and Timothy Williams advance in a hallway during active-shooter training, as two other officers, Capt. Ronald Martin and Sgt. Chris Scheeler, protect the rear.

Capt. Ronnie Martin, at bottom left, Capt. Walter Dornan, top left, and Deputy Sheriff Kenny Sierra, behind Martin, wear helmets with a shield to protect their face and eyes as they enter a room where an active-shooter may fire non-lethal, detergent-based simunition ammo training rounds at them.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said his department continues training for possibilities that everyone involved hopes will never have to be dealt with – one or more armed intruders in a public area, a business, school or government building.

“It’s a question of being prepared in advance for what could happen, while hoping it doesn’t happen,’’ the sheriff said. “In today’s environment, it’s the preparation that’s crucial.’’

This summer, Sheriff’s Office personnel have been undergoing active-shooting response training, most recently at the old Gauthier Elementary School, now closed.

Under the supervision of the sheriff’s Training Division, headed by Maj. David DiMaggio, officers from all departments have worked on techniques such as tactics for clearing buildings by room searches. Trainers have also attended sessions sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security involving active-shooter situations, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Also, the sheriff’s SWAT team has undergone training exercises in parish schools to familiarize themselves with the layout of buildings and practice tactics, the sheriff said.

He said many schools in St. Bernard Parish have been entirely rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina and officers walked through and trained in the new layouts.

Maj. Robert McNab, commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, heads the SWAT team.

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Public invited to a blood drive on Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Parish Gov’t Bldg., 8201 West Judge Perez, billed as “Guns & Hoses” or the Sheriff’s Office vs. the Fire Department

It’s Guns & Hoses on Saturday, Sept. 7, when the public is invited to participate in a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Parish Gov’t Bldg. lobby, 8201 West Judge Perez, Chalmette, being billed as “Guns & Hoses” or the Sheriff’s Office vs. the Fire Department.

The blood drive will benefit The Blood Center, which supplies blood to numerous New Orleans area hospitals including St. Bernard Parish Hospital.

Donors will receive their choice of a T-Shirt featuring the Guns & Hoses logo or a family blood coverage.

For more information call Jill Mathews, St. Bernard representative for The Blood Center. (504) 319-7057.

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