St, Bernard Anti-Drug Community Coalition to hold next meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 12 in the third– floor conference room at the Sheriff’s Office’s Annex Building behind the Courthouse

The St. Bernard Anti-Drug Community Coalition will be holding its regular monthly meeting on August 12th, 2014 at 9:30 am at the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s office. The meeting is open to the public.

The new coalition of community activist works towards developing community wide programs to decrease drug use in St. Bernard.

The meeting is in the third-floor conference room of the Sheriff’s Annex building on Pakenham Drive behind the Parish Courthouse. Go to the second-floor desk in the hallway and you will be brought ip to the third-floor for the meeting

For additional additional information, contact Joseph Salande at [email protected] , Daniel Schneider at [email protected] or call 504-278-4308. Also, visit us on Facebook at St. Bernard Community Coalition @ Facebook.com.

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Arabi woman possibly tied to a shoot-out between drivers on a New Orleans street booked on several drug charges including possession with intent to distribute meth and Ecstasy

An Atabi woman possibly tied to a shoot-out between drivers on a New Orleans street Monday night was arrested Tuesday by St. Bernard sheriff’s narcotics agents on several drug charges including possession with intent to distribute about 15 grams of methamphetamine worth about $3,000 and 30 tablets of MDMA or Ecstasy, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Joenica Johnson, 20, 1205 Mehle Apt. E, was also booked with possession of the prescription painkiller pills Tramadol and hydrococonde pilss, the sheriff said. All of the drugs involved were found in a purse which she acknowledged was hers.

Johnson is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison and no bond has been set.

Her arrest came Tuesday morning about 10:45 a.m. after St. Bernard deputies located a black Acura auto with several bullet holes to the passenger side, that was parked under a tarp in a parkling lot of the same apartment building where Johnson lives.

Two men seen near Johnson’s apartment building, one holding the purse, identified Johnson as asking them to keep the purse while she went to get something from her apartment. When she returned she admitted it was her purse and she was arrested on the drug counts.

The Acura was later towed away by New Orleans police as part of their investigation of an incident that happened aboput 6 p.m. on Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans in which two drivers heading east-bound fired guns at each other, striking both cars, but not injuring anyone.

Two men in one of the cars were later stopped on Patricia Street in Arabi and they were taken to New Orleans to be booked in connection with the shoot-out. The car they were in had several bullet holes.

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Sheriff says department has more officers on the force, is building three new sub-stations at parish borders at no cost to residents and is maintaining quick response times to calls for service

Sheriff James Pohlmann told the Chamber of Commerce quick response times to calls for service remains the hallmark of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The department is also making progress toward erasing the deficit he inherited when he took office, the sheriff said, while also increasing the number of officers on the streets, has upgraded its hiring process for deputies and is rebuilding three new sub-stations at parish boundaries at no cost to residents.

He said at a Chamber luncheon he inherited a $4.2 million deficit when he won office in November 2011 when he was Chief Deputy Sheriff, but began efforts to whittle it down before he took office July 1, 2012.

“We had to make difficult cuts,’’ to reduce the department budget, the biggest of which was the number of employees, which went from from 315 to 265.

The cuts resulted in a $2.5 million savings, the sheriff said, but despite those reductions and continuing cost-saving changes, he said, the department still faced a large deficit. Loans had to be taken in anticipation of revenue in order to avoid further cuts that could have affected crime-fighting ability.

That was why St. Bernard residents were asked to approve an increase in property taxes for the Sheriff’s Office in an April 2013 election. The public responded by approving the measure 61-39 percent.

“It not only got us out of the hole but allowed us to build for the future,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Now, the department has been able to hire more officers to patrol streets, with the force now numbering about 280, he said.

The hiring process for officers was also ungraded involving creation of a hiring board made up of experienced deputies who interview applicants and make recommendations he reviews, the sheriff said.

Using a pool of money from FEMA, along with a donation of land along Paris Road from the Meraux Foundation, the Sheriff’s Office is building three new sub-stations at the entrances to St. Bernard at no cost to parish residents.

The building housing the station now on Paris Road has been leased but building the department’s own place on Paris Road will free up the money used for leasing to go toward utilities for all the new buildings, the sheriff said.

Increased training programs for deputies have been implemented, the sheriff said, and through grants the department has been successful in obtaining money used to get its first mobile emergency command post, a patrol boat big enough to be used on the Missisippi River and a deep-water trucks that can used used for evacuating residents in a rain stiorm event.

Prison trusty work crews have been used in public projects with other agencies to help clean up highways and cut trees along canals to improve drainage and even help with levee maintenance, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The sheriff also acknowledged that like elsewhere in the nation, drug abuse – particularly a surge in heroin use being seen throughout many areas – remains a problem and is the leading cause of property crimes. Addicts steal to get money to feed their habit, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“If you could fix the drug problem you fix the crime problem,’’ he said.

The sheriff has often said he believes in drug abuse resistance programs in schools starting with very young students. He told Chamber members that spending money on education on the front end to prevent kids from getting hooked on drugs would be better than paying the costs of incarceration as well as drugs’ toll on society in general once children have grown up dependent on them.

“We know you can’t arrest your way out of the drug problem,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. Education and rehabilitation treatment programs are the best chance at a solution, he said.

The sheriff was asked by someone in the audience about his view on lowering penalties for marijuana possession or even eventual legalization. “I think it’s a bad idea,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Some people say legalizing its sale will help provide needed money and two states, Colorado and Washington, have now created systems where it can be legally purchased. But he said he feels it will only create more marijuana users, making it more likely marijuana will be bought and used by those who haven’t previously done so because it was illegal. He said he doesn’t believe long-time marijuana users will legally buy it and would continue to otherwise obtain it.

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Autopsy found no trauma to body of man who died in a Chalmette park on Thursday but no specific cause of death was determined pending toxicology tests

An autopsy found no trauma to the body of a man who died in Torres Park in Chalmette on Thursday but no specific cause of death was determined pending toxicology tests which could take weeks for results, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The 53-year old Chalmette man, identified as Gary Casey, was found on steps next to the rock structure in Torres Park, the sheriff said.

There was no indication of foul play at the scene or that anyone else was involved, the sheriff said, adding it was suspected Casey’s death may have been caused by something he ingested.

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Sheriff’s Office investigates death of man found Thursday in Torres Park in Chalmette

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 53-year old Chalmette man found in Torres Park on Thursday afternoon, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

There wasn’t an obvious cause of death and there will be an autopsy to determine the cause, Sheriff Pohlmann said, adding that investigating detectives suspect the man’s death was self-induced. There was no indication of foul play or that anyone else was involved, the sheriff said.

His name hasn’t been released.

A woman walking in Torres Park just before 2 p.m. found the body on steps next to the rock structure in the park.

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Two brothers booked with attempted murder after one fired six shots into a Chalmette house at a third man one allegedly argued with; No one injured

Tremaine “Dudu” Moses, booked with six counts of attempted murder in Chalmette

Germaine “Maine” Moses, also booked with six counts of attempted murder.

Two Chalmette brothers were booked Wednesday with attempted murder after one fired six shots into a house at a third man one had allegedly argued with outside his residence, but no one was injured, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Tremaine “Dudu”” Moses, 17, and his brother, Germaine “Maine’’ Moses, 19, both of 3715 Juno Drive, surrendered to sheriff’s detectives about noon Wednesday, brought by their mother, who had been told deputies had arrest warrants for them issued Wednesday morning by a judge. The warrants alleged six counts of attempted murder against each teen-ager.

Both were booked into the St. Bernard Parish Prison and no bond has been set. They denied being involved.

The brothers were arrested after one of them tried to kill Willie Daniels, age unknown, by firing into Daniels’ home at 9109 W. Virtue St. in Chalmette about 10:45 p.m., the night of July 22, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Daniels said he recognized both and said one pulled a gun but he didn’t which one shot at him.

Daniels said he went outside his home to lock up bicycles that were outside and found four or five men standing near his vehicle in his driveway, the sheriff said. He said he recognized two he knew as “Dudu”” and “Maine,’’ nicknames for the Moses brothers.

Daniels also said that as he went to get a bicycle, Tremaine Moses pulled a handgun from a waist band and yelled at Daniels to get back inside. Daniels further said he immediately turned to go back inside after seeing the gun and as he approached the open front door several shots rang out, causing him to dive inside.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from the house and found six spent .45 casings in the front yard and also located projectiles inside the house, as well as five bullet holes in the door, speculating one shot went through the open door and five others through it when closed, the sheriff said.

Besides Daniels, five other people including three children were in the house but no one was injured. One shot hit a fish tank, two went through a wall into the bathroom and another hit a refrigerator in the kitchen.

Arrest warrants were obtained by Det. Ryan Melerine after Daniels identified both brohters as suspects from photo line-ups he was shown. The sheriff said.

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Some 65 sheriff’s deputies have received tourniquet kits in an effort to save lives by stopping uncontrolled bleeding in severe accidents

Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Smith applies a tourniquet to an arm of Dep. Brad Nuccio

Lt. Raymond Theriot places a tourniquet on his right arm.

Sixty-five St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies have been issued tourniquet kits and received training in an effort to prevent deaths in severe accidents by stopping uncontrolled bleeding, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“This has the potential to save a life’ when deputies are called to the scene of an auto accident, a shooting or other type situations in which a victim is bleeding from a wound, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Staff members from the Level 1 Trauma Center at Interim LSU Hospital in New Orleans met recently with 65 sheriff’s deputies, who were issued tourniquets and given instructions about their use and importance.

The Trauma Center received grants and other funding to obtain the tourniquets for law enforcement agencies and have neen issuing to numerous police agencies in the state, including Louisiana State Police and New Orleans police. Use of tourniquets to control bleeding were essential in saving lives of people injured in the terrorist bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathan, staff members told deputies.

“They save lives,’’ said St. Bernard Deputy Sheriff Byron Shoemaker. a certified medical technician for 20 years and the medic for several of the Sheriff’s Office divisions and the SWAT Team. Shoemaker was involved in working with the Level 1 Trauma Center to get the tourniquets for sheriff’s deputies.

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Teen CERT camp involving youngsters from St. Bernard and three other parishes stressed leadership and organization skills, battling bullying and cyber threats and taught CPR and use of defibrillators

Participants in the Teen CERT camp use a mannequin to practice moving an injured person without further injury.

Maurya Rodriquez of Chalmette in her Teen CERT helmet.

Several St. Bernard Parish youngsters took part in the camp at Lafreniere Park sponsored by in the Teen Community Emergency Response Team program, or CERT, with boys and girls from St. Bernard, Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes.

St. Bernard’s Sheriff’s Office participated in the event.

The teen-agers learned basics of using a fire extinguisher, carrying out search and rescue and took part in discussions on battling bullying and watching out for cyber threats.

“We had 79 youngsters from various backgrounds and parishes work together and in the end accomplished good things like all of them being certified in CPR and the use of defrillators’’ which could could be important in the future, said Capt. Charles Borchers of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, who part along with Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers of St. Bernard and authorities from the other parishes involved.

“This was the first time it was done here but it is something we are going to want to participate in again and find more ways to bring other kids into it,’’ Borrchers said.

“The group seemed to enjoy itself and a number of parents were there on the last day when kids received their certificates.’’ Each child taking part received a free knap sack and shirt, as well as otems such as a helmet, a flashlight and tools.

CERT and Teen Cert are similar to the old Civil Defense groups which trained volunteers for community emergencies. CERT and Teen CERT are under the overall umbrella of U.S. Homeland Security.

Those who would like to join the adult CERT group being coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office can call Borchers at (504) 278-7628/ He can also be called ny anyone who would like to regiser for the latest free series of the Sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy, which starts Aug. 27.

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Children at Christian Fellowship camp enjoyed the Sheriff’s Office robot, remote control car and other items and a chance to meet and talk with officers in a non-intimidating atmosphere

Sgt. Chris Scheeler of the Sheriff’s Office bomb squad, shows youngsters how heavy a bomb suit is

Dep. Shane Lulei with children aboard the Sheriff’s Office airboat.

Lt. Lisa Jackson, head of the D.A.R.E. program for the Sheriff’s Office, talks to youngsters about the dangers of distractd driving, including use of cell phones and texting.

Participants in the Christian Fellowship summer camp surround the Sheriff’s Office bomb robot, used to check out suspicious items, during a law enforcement day at the camp.

Children at a Christian Fellowship summer camp got to enjoy the Sheriff’s Office robot, remote control car, airboat, motorcycles and trucks.

But maybe more importantly, it was also a chance to them to meet with sheriff’s officers in a non-intimating atmosphere, fostering the opportunity to talk with police and ask questions.

Rev Henry Ballard of Christian Fellowship in Violet holds the camp for eight weeks each summer, with activities geared to boys and girls ages 5-12. There are field trips and sessions with a doctor from LSU Medical Center, focusing on self esteem and ways to resist bullying.

But Ballard said the day set aside for law enforcement to visit and show specialized equipment is also important to the kids.

“They get to hear what the Sheriff’s Office is trying to do to give them a safe community to grow up in,’’ Ballard said. Sheriff James Pohlmann visited the camp, along with numerous sheriff’s deputies who demonstrated specialized equipment and answered questions.

“They are inquisitive’’ about sheriff’s deputies, Ballard said. “They see police in their neighborhoods and other places in the parish but for them to have the chance to ask questions is good.’’

“This gives them a chance to interact with law enforcement in a non-intimidating way.’’

Sheriff Pohlmann said the department likes to meet in such ways with young people, also saying, “Its an opportunity to interact with the youth in our community,’’ which pays dividends in the long run.

The equipment demonstration includes some that have proven to be crowd favorities: the bomb robot used to check suspicious items, an airboat, a motorcycle used by the sheriff’s Traffic Division and the department’s SWAT truck used in SWAT Team training.

New and also popular this year was a remote control car carrying a miniature Daren the Lion, national mascot of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, or D.A.R.E., whioch is taught by sheriff’s deputies in St. Bernard schools.

Kids crowded around each of the pieces of equipment as they were demonstrated by deputies.

Also, officers from the D.A.R.E. program showed the new “distraction glasses,’’ which simulate the effects of being drunk or impaired in order to show youngsters the dangers of driving impaired by alcohol or drugs.

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Registration being held for next free sessions of the popular Sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy, which starts Aug. 27; Call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 to sign up

There’s no better way to learn about law enforcement than the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy, which is free, held in Chalmette and participants learn about what police work entails in their parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Our Sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy classes will answer a lot of the questions you may have about law enforcement here and why things are done the way they are,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. Graduates, he said, become “ambassadors for law enforcement because they have a vested interest in what happens in St. Bernard.’’

Call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 to register. Classes begin Aug. 27 and will meet each Wednesday at 7 p.m. through graduation night on Oct. 29.

Classes will be held in the sheriff’s Training Center on the 2nd-floor in a parish government building at 2118 Jackson Ave. in Chalmette, immediately behind the Parish Courthouse. The Assessor’s Office is in the same building.

Frank discussions about specifics of law enforcement in St. Bernard will be held and participants can ask questions and give their in-put to officers and speakers from various law enforcement agencies.

Also, one component of the academy that is always popular is the irearms simulator which has participants make quick-second decisions on whether they would use lethal force on a ccrimi9nal suspect after watching computerized scenarios on a screen.

Sheriff Pohlmann said anyone who has attended other Sheriff’s Office-sponsored events including the series “Refuse to be a Victim’’ or the National Night Out Against Crime would especially find the Citizens Police Academy to be of interest to them.

Something new being added to the Citizens Police Academy this year is training available in a program the Sheriff’s Office is coordinating called the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. It is similar to the old Civil Defense, which had a long history of training volunteers to help out in local emergencies. Those trained in CERT could supplement first-responders in certain emergency situations.

“The CERT program gives specific training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations,” said Sheriff Pohlmann.

Borchers, head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office, runs the Citizens Police Academy classes and coordinates Neighborhood Watch programs and the National Night Out Against Crime event for the department.

Anyone who wants to start a neighborhood Watch on their street, hold a Night Out against Crime get-together or apply for the sheriff’s Reserve Division should also call Borchers.

About 650 parish residents have graduated the Sheriff’s Citizens Police Academy in St. Bernard since its inception in 1999. This is the seventh class for the program since Hurricane Katrina and more than 200 have graduated those previous sessions, said Borchers

There are numerous features to the Citizens Police Academy program which participants say they enjoy, 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.

– Experiencing a firearms simulator program which has participants react to computerized scenarios which ask them to make split-second decisions on whether to shoot a criminal defendant.

– Hands-on demonstrations of equipment including the new sheriff’s high-water truck purchased with a grant and used in rain events, weapons and a robot used for checking suspicious items are also part of the program

– On-site tours of Parish Prison and the new renovated parish Courthouse.

– Lectures from law enforcement agencies from outside St. Bernard

The classes will feature speakers from the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and are geared to fostering good relations between the community and law enforcement.

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