Archives: May2015

St. Bernard residents can get extra sheriff’s patrols at their home while on vacation or away on business; Call 271-2501; Vacation crime prevention tips listed

Posted: May 30th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Before going on vacation or leaving for business, St. Bernard Parish residents should call the Sheriff’s Office and get on the list to have extra passes made at their home by patrol deputies, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
“When thinking about the last-minute things you have to do before leaving, remember to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 and get on the extra patrol list,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.
He added, “That information is kept confidential’’ and revealed only to the officers assigned to patrol the section where the caller lives.
The sheriff said residents should also leave a contact number with the Sheriff’s Office so a patrol deputy can call them if there is something wrong at a home, including non crime-related matters such as damage from a wind or rain storm.
Capt. Charles Borchers, head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office including the Neighborhood Watch program, said the extra pass list has been used effectively for years and helps residents be assured their homes will have some extra protection while they are away.
Also, St. Bernard residents interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch group in their area can call Borchers at (504) 278-7628.
Borchers said residents should consider the following crime prevention tips before leaving their home for trips:

Lock up. While this might seem obvious, some people forget to lock their house completely while rushing to get away. Make sure all doors and windows are locked.
Be careful who you tell that you plan to be away from your home. However, ask someone you trust to watch for anything unusual. Also, never leave a message on a phone voice mail system saying you are out of town because any caller would learn your house may be vulnerable.
Do whatever possible to create the appearance someone is home. Keep a vehicle in the driveway or out front of your residence. Maintain your lawn before you leave or have someone you trust mow your lawn while you are gone.
Put outdoor lighting on either timers, light-sensitive photocell mechanisms, or motion detectors. Use timers to activate inside lighting, radios, or TVs. Use the new fluorescent (cfl) light bulbs because they burn cooler than the standard light bulbs.
Don’t let deliveries accumulate. If possible, ask someone you know to pick up mail, newspapers, packages and any circulars placed on your front door. Stop delivery of any newspaper if you can so they don’t pile up.
Don’t leave keys under your doormat, flower pots or window ledges—intruders check these first.
Keep shrubbery trimmed. Thick shrubbery and trees cover your windows, allowing burglars to work undetected.
If you have a security system, ensure it is armed and provide instructions to the central monitoring station, if you have one, to call your cell phone, the Sheriff’s Office and/or a particular friend, relative or neighbor if there is a problem.
If your area has a Neighborhood Watch program inform officials about your vacation plans.

SBSO Hazardous Devices Unit can work on land or under water

Posted: May 29th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Shown from left are the Sheriff’s Office Hazadous Devices Unit members who are certified as explosive divers: Capt. Daniel Doucet, Lt. Stephen Ingargiola and Sgt. Chris Scheeler, commander.

In a rare combination of skills, the three members of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Devices Unit are able to work on land and underwater.

They are, in fact, the only law enforcement agency in the state of Louisiana to become certified in the prestigious Underwater Explosive Recovery Specialist Course held annually in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Currently, of nearly 3000 bomb technicians across the United States, only 250 hold the title of an Underwater Explosive Recovery Specialist.

“This is a source of pride for us to know that in St. Bernard Parish we have officers certified to handle hazardous devices on land or underwater,’’ Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “Our parish is surrounded by water and it’s good to know we can respond to something if need be.”

It is another way in which emphasis on training is helping make the department more effective, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The three members of the Hazardous Devices Unit are Sgt. Chris Scheeler, commander of the group; Capt. Daniel Doucet and Lt. Stephen Ingargiola. The unit comes under the department’s Special Operations Division, headed by Maj. Mark Poche.

All three members perform other duties in the department but also can be called upon when a suspicious item such as a bag or knapsack is found unattended in a public place and needs to be ascertained whether it could contain an explosive.

All three are also on the department’s dive team that has been used to find evidence thrown in bodies of water in St. Bernard Parish.

Sgt. Scheeler said the intense course in Oklahoma certified the unit as Explosive Divers and to render safe any explosives found underwater. The course also taught very in-depth search patterns that can be used in locating evidence of any kind in conditions of low visibility, he said.

Becoming certified in the underwater explosives training “was a chance to both further our own dive careers and advance the capabilities of the Sheriff’s Office,’’ Scheeler said.

The unit hasn’t been called upon to deal with underwater explosives, Scheeler said. But he said possible uses would be to look for underwater explosives believed placed in the river or other bodies of water, or for collection of evidence such as weapons or for security searches in advance of visits by dignitaries.

Scheeler also thanked the ExxonMobil Company’s Good Neighbor Grant Program for helping to make the underwater training possible.

Dep. Sheriff read a book to pre-schoolers at Gauthier Elementary School during their Literacy Week celebration.

Posted: May 27th, 2015 | Filed under: SBSO News

Dep. Sheriff Lt. Billy Cure reads to
pre-schoolers at Gauthier Elementary School as part of their Literacy Week celebration.

The children gather around Dep. Sheriff Lt. Billy Cure.

Dep. Sheriff Lt. Billy Cure read a book to a pre-school class at Gauthier Elementary School recently as part of their Literacy Week celebration. Cure,a veteran with the Sheriff’s Office who is assigned to the Community Relations Department, read in rhe classroom of teacher Alyssa Ferrera.

It takes yearly drug resistance education in schools and at home to beat the drug problem, which would fight crime in general, Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark tell Chalmette Elementary D.A.R.E. grad.

Posted: May 24th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Sheriff James Pohlmann addresses D.A.R.E. graduates and parents at Chalmette Elementary.	The other half of the students perform the D.A.R.E. theme song.
D.A.R.E. essay winners at Chalmette Elementary were, from left in front, Trinity Fortuna, Caroline Gai, Chloe Jorns and Marlene Torres. In back, from left, are D.A.R.E. instructors Lt. Lisa Jackson and Sgt. Darrin Miller, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Capt. Ronnie Martin, Maj. Chad Clark and Lt. Richard Jackson.	The other half of the students perform the D.A.R.E. theme song.

Sheriff James Pohlmann had just told D.A.R.E. graduates at Chalmette Elementary School that “you would solve the crime problem by solving the drug problem’’ because most property crimes are committed to gain money to buy drugs.

Then he asked the fifth-graders, their parents and teachers if they knew how solving the drug problem could be done.

One boy answered, “Tell people how bad drugs are.’’

Sheriff Pohlmann replied, “You don’t know how right you are.’’

Then the sheriff explained he believes the best chance to do that lies in yearly drug abuse education in schools as a student moves through each grade, with testing on the material like any other subject. Combine that with discussions at home by a child’s parents about drugs and the problem could be greatly reduced, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“More money should be spent on the front end through education than on the back end with incarceration’’ after someone has gotten into the criminal justice system through an arrest.

And he said users deserve a chance at rehabilitation while all drug dealers should be sent to prison. “Drugs destroy your life, your family and your community,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said

About 100 students at Chalmette Elementary were recognized May 21 for graduating the 12-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, or D.A.R.E., taught by instructors from the Sheriff’s Office. It is a program aimed at trying to keep kids from using drugs including tobacco and alcohol or taking part in violence or bullying others.

The D.A.R.E. program is given by St. Bernard sheriff’s officers Lt. Lisa Jackson, its commander. and Sgt. Darrin Miller

Sheriff Pohlmann also praised parents for turning out for D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies at schools and encouraged them to continue staying focused on their children, including talking often with them and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use or be alerted to them actually using drugs.

If necessary, drug test kits are available at pharmacies to test young people, the sheriff told parents. If there is a problem it is important to rescue them before they become involved in the criminal justice system and end up in prison, the sheriff said.

Maj. Chad Clark, head of the Special Investigations Division including the Narcotics Unit, said it takes the kind of education effort given by Sheriff’s Office drug resistance instructors at parish schools to affect the drug problem in America as well as solid law enforcement to stop drug dealers.

Clark noted there are more than 100,000 deaths in America each year from drug-related causes, including some in St. Bernard Parish. Tobacco use claims an estimated 400,000 lives a year in this country, he said.

The resurgence of the drug heroin is concerning law enforcement and health care officials nationwide, he said. Clark added the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office has seized more heroin in the first three months of this year than the two previous years combined.

But Clark said overdose deaths have been going down in the parish because of a combination of factors including law enforcement diligence.

“Learn the warning signs of drug use,’’ in young people, Sheriff Pohlmann said to parents, including:

– Loss of interest in things they used to do such as sports, dance or reading.
– Hanging around with new groups of friends unknown to parents.
– Sudden attitude or mood swings.
– Sudden problems connected with school and academics.

Talk regularly with your children and be familiar with their friends, the sheriff said.

If parents see signs of possible problems, don’t be hesitant to ask what is happening. “It’s not something they will grow out of and it needs to be addressed,’’ the sheriff said.

Maj. Clark told children they have received the tools they need to begin making right choices. Clark also pledged to parents narcotics officers will continue to do their best to rid the parish of drug-dealers.

He also said parents can call the SID Division at 271-DOPE (3673) to make an appointment if they want to discuss any particular problem involving their children and drugs.

St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies, Fire Dept. officials and state and federal Wildlife agents took part in Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics with parish Special Olympics participants;

Posted: May 22nd, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Sheriff’s deputies begin their run.	More runners during the event.
Law enforcement officers from St. Bernard Parish, state and federal Wildlife agents, Fire Department officials and Special Olympics participants from St. Bernard gather before starting the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on May 22.	Runners and walkers turn on to Paris Road from the St. Bernard Parish Prison to begin the Torch Run, which ended at Torres Park.

St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette was alive with activity on Friday, May 22, for the St. Bernard leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Louisiana.

Some 40 sheriff’s deputies, Fire Department officials and state and federal Wildlife agents took part in the run with parish Special Olympics participants, going west on the highway from St. Bernard Parish Prison on Paris Road and ending at Torres Park.

More than $1,000 was raised in the process for Special Olympics Louisiana and the State Summer Games being held in Hammond. It was the largest amount ever raised by the Law Enforcement Torch Run in the parish, said Cpl. Jessica Gernados, who coordinates the run for the Sheriff’s Office.

Seventeen youngsters and adults from St. Bernard Parish who took part in the start of the Torch Run later left for Hammond by bus to take part in the State Games.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics has been celebrated for more than 30 years. More than 2,000 law enforcement officers take part statewide.

St. Bernard S.O. looking for man who burglarized a home, stole a car and tried to break into other vehicles; Call 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111

Posted: May 21st, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Martin Coggeshall, wanted for several crimes in St.
Bernard Parish

St. Bernard Parish authorities are looking for a man identified as perpetrating a one-man crime spree on May 15, breaking into an Arabi home, stealing a car and trying to burglarize other vehicles, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Martin Coggeshall, 37, who had been living in Chalmette, is wanted on warrants for his arrest after an investigation identified him as the perpetrator of several crimes on the same day, the sheriff said.

Coggeshall, who has a lengthy criminal record, stole a car on Perrin Drive in Arabi after burglarizing a home, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.

Sheriff’s Office alerts residents about company offering a possibly misleading solicitation to sell property records that can be obtained for less cost at the parish Clerk of Court’s Office;

Posted: May 21st, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Sheriff James Pohlmann is alerting parish residents that a company is sending letters of solicitation offering to sell them copies of their property records at a price generally much higher than they could be obtained from the parish Clerk of Court’s Office and the letter could be misinterpreted as a bill they must pay.

Record Transfer Services of Westlake Village, Ca., recommends in the letter that all homeowners obtain a copy of their current grant deed and offers to sell them one for $83.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the letter is not a bill from a public agency and shouldn’t be interpreted as something a homeowner has to pay. Anyone wanting a copy of a deed can get one at a generally much lower price at the Clerk of Court’s Office in Chalmette, he said.

The Sheriff’s Office and Clerk’s Office have received inquiries from the public regarding whether the letter represented a bill they had to pay.

“This offer has not been made by any government agency,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “This is a solicitation, not a bill. And you are under no obligation to pay the amount stated unless you accept the offer.’’

Crimestoppers GNO partners with the FBI and Sheriff Pohlmann to host a second area-wide pool tournament in Chalmette to bring law enforcement officers together

Posted: May 19th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Sheriffs at the event were Lonnie Greco of Plaquemines, Marlin Gusman of Orleans and Sheriff Pohlmann.	St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office team members from left Dep. Jeremy Rog, and Maj. Pete Tufaro.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office team members from left Det. Al Clavin and Det. Lt. Richard Mendel.	St. Bernard team members from left Dep. Lamont Dersone and Det. Sgt. Donald Johnson.
Shown at the law enforcement pool tournament in Chalmette are, from left, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Lonnie Greco, FBI New Orleans office Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson, Crimestoppers CEO and President Darlene Cusanza, Phillip Durham, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans ATF office; Sheriff James Pohlmann and Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy.	The winning team at the pool tournament was Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser, third from left, and Deputy Chief Robert Meyer, next to him. both holding the trophies. With them are, from left, Anderson, Cusanza and Sheriff Pohlmann.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office team members from left Det. Capt. Mark Jackson and Det. Maj.Robert McNab.	St. Bernard team members from left Det. Ryan Melerine and Det. Matt Arcement.

Mike Anderson of the FBI lines up a shot in the tournament.

It was as easy as a close tap-in to a side pocket.

That was how well officers from various agencies mingled
the night of May 15 as more than 60 federal agents, sheriffs, police chiefs and other cops gathered in 31 teams at Lacy’s Cue in Chalmette for a second annual area-wide law enforcement pool tournament to build relationships.

Police from some 20 agencies participated with numerous other officers attending the event besides those playing.

“It went well and was a wonderful event,’’ said Darlene Cusanza, President and CEO of the nonprofit group Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans. “It was supposed to be a networking opportunity to help build relationships between agencies and it did that.’’

Michael Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI office in New Orleans since 2012, was one of the driving forces in 2014 in suggesting the first area-wide law enforcement pool tournament as a means for cops to get together socially.

Anderson, who played in the tournament and said he has played since 12 when he began with his father and brother, said the evening was exactly what he had in mind as a way for officers to meet and talk.

“This was done in the interest of getting law enforcement together and it has succeeded in doing that,’’ Anderson said, and promotes people from agencies being able to work together.

A team from the Kenner Police Department won the pool tournament while a team from the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office was second,

Sheriff James Pohlmann, whose St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office had 10 employees participate in five teams for the tournament, said he enjoyed meeting officers from federal, state and local agencies and having time to talk with fellow sheriffs and police chiefs. “I had a good time,’’ the sheriff said.

Sheriff Pohlmann has said it’s important that law enforcement can work together on matters that cross jurisdictional lines. When law enforcement officers from various agencies meet in a casual atmosphere it fosters better cooperation, he said.

The sheriff added, “It is always easier to deal with people you have met and spoken with before.’’

Plus, he said, the pool tournament is a good way to feature Crimestoppers “because that group has been so important in helping law enforcement through its program of offering cash rewards for tips on criminal suspects, which has led to so many arrests over the years.’’

Other area law enforcement leaders participating besides Sheriff Pohlmann and Anderson included Sheriffs Marlin Gusman of Orleans Parish and Lonnie Greco of Plaquemines Parish, Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser, Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith and Phillip Durham, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans office for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Agencies participating included Sheriff’s Offices from St. Bernard, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Orleans, St. Tammany and St. John parishes, police departments from New Orleans, Slidell and Kenner, Louisiana State Police the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Bureau of ATF, Homeland Security, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Secret Service.

Players on the St. Bernard sheriff’s pool teams included Maj. Pete Tufaro, Det. Maj. Robert McNab, Det. Capt. Mark Jackson, Det. Lt. Richard Mendel, Det. Sgt. Donald Johnson, Det. Al Clavin, Det. Ryan Melerine, Det. Matt Arcement, Dep. Jeremy Roig and Dep. Lamont Dersone.

Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers reads to 1st-graders at Lacoste Elementary School as part of their Literacy Week celebration

Posted: May 14th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

Dep. Sheriff eric Eilers reads to 1st-graders at
Lacoste Elementary School in the classroom of teacher Rebekah Topey.

Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers read a book to two 1st-grade classes at Lacoste Elementary School in Chalmette recently as part of their Literacy Week celebration. Eilers, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office about 15 years and is assigned to the Community Relations Department, urged students to read on their own and strive to learn something new each day.

Sheriff Pohlmann and Maj. Clark tell D.A.R.E. program graduates they must make the right choices in life and told parents drug enforcement efforts aimed at saving their children from a life of torment and crime

Posted: May 14th, 2015 | Filed under: News Releases

At Wille Smith Jr. Elementary, D.A.R.E. essay contest winners were, in front, Ke-Irell Rhodes, U’ >Nique McGill and Grace Teal, with in back from left, D.A.R.E. program head Lt. Lisa Jackson, Lt. Richard Jackson, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark,D.A.R.E.instructor Sgt. Darrin Miller, and Lt. Robert Broadhead.	Essay winners at Arabi Elementary were, in front, April Liebert, Chobie Chan, Diamond Jones and Ramiyah Guerra. At right is Principal Carla Carollo. In back from left, are: Lt. Lisa Jackson, Maj. Chad Clark. Sheriff James Pohlmann, Lt. Richard Jackson and Sgt. Darrin Miller.
Willie Smith students sing and dance the D.A.R.E. theme song.	Sheriff Pohlmann talks to Willie Smith students grduating D.A.R.E.
Maj. Clark discusses drug abuse in the parish to parents at Willie Smith.	A relative of a gradduare videos students performing the D.A.R.E. theme song.

Sheriff Pohlmann talks to parents at
Arabi Elementary, with graduating 5th-graders seated behind him.

Sheriff James Pohlmann told children graduating the 5th-grade Drug Abuse Resistance Education program they must concentrate on making the right choices to have productive lives, including listening to their parents and teachers and deciding who they should and shouldn’t associate with.

And he praised parents for turning out for D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies at schools and encouraged them to continue staying focused on their children, including talking often with them and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use or be alerted to them actually using drugs.

Children at Willie Smith Jr. Elementary in Violet and Arabi Elementary were recognized for completing a 12-week program in Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E., taught by instructors from the Sheriff’s Office – a program aimed at trying to keep kids from using drugs including tobacco and alcohol or taking part in violence or bullying others.

Educating children early on about the hazards of drug abuse is the best hope to reduce future use and a life tortured by drug addiction and criminal acts to support a drug habit, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“How do you stop the crime problem,’’ the sheriff asked children and parents? “You’ve got to stop the drug problem,’’ he answered.

Pointing to the nearly 200 children graduates in the two schools, Sheriff Pohlmann said they are the reason “our deputies go out each day and try to get drugs off the streets of this parish.’’

The sheriff said many people have family members affected by illegal drugs.

“Drugs destroy your life, your family and your community,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Maj. Chad Clark, commander of the Special Investigations Division including the Narcotics Unit, said it takes the kind of education effort given by Sheriff’s Office drug resistance instructors at parish schools to affect the drug problem in America as well as solid law enforcement to stop drug dealers.

“We can’t arrest ourselves out of this problem,’’ Clark said, noting there are more than 100,000 deaths in America each year from drug-related causes, including some in St. Bernard Parish. The resurgence of the drug heroin is concerning law enforcement and health care officials nationwide, he said. Clark added the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office has seized more heroin in the first three months of this year than the two previous years combined.