Archives: September2015

Children and parents turn out to show support for law enforcement; visiting a Sheriff’s Office Patrol station, Communications and Parish Prison; Sheriff Pohlmann thanks group and praises relationship

Sheriff James Pohlmann thanks the group of parents, grand-parents and children for thier support for law enforcement,	Sheriff Pohlmann holds a card made by children for an event to show support for law enforcement and in front are are two children who took part.
Participants are shown Sept. 5 in a conference room of a Sheriff’s Office sub-station on Paris Road.	A box of doughnuts given to officers on which children signed their names.

St. Bernard Parish children release balloons as part of an event to show support for law enforcement. Officers and children are standing in front of the new Sheriff’s Office sub-station for Patrol Division deputies, which just opened on Paris Road.

Shannon Nevels of Chalmette said she has been heartsick over the murder of numerous law enforcement officers this year, including at least eight in Louisiana, and more throughout other states.

It moved her to enlist the support of parish residents – both parents and grand-parents – and asked them to bring children to make a statement in support of law enforcement and show officers how much they are appreciated. More than 30 children of various ages were involved.

The group, dressed in blue, brought cards, messages of support, balloons they released in the air and gifts of boxes of doughnuts to a Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division station on Paris Road, to the Communications Division and officers at Parish Prison.

“I wanted to do this because of the killings of officers that have taken place and show our kids that police are good people, not bad, and they are the ones who protect this parish,’’ said Nevels, who brought two children with her.

“I just asked people to bring their kids and they did,’’ Nevels said.

One of the youngsters involved, Robert Sparnecht, 13, of Chalmette, said he wanted to do it “to thank the police officers for what they do to protect us.’’ He added, “I think this (attacks) on police needs to stop.’’

Sheriff James Pohlmann thanked the group for the show of support.

“This couldn’t have come at a better time,’’ the sheriff said.

While the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has “always enjoyed a good relationship with the community,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, that isn’t true everywhere.

“Law enforcement is experiencing a bad time now,’’ the sheriff said.
To have people come out to show support, “This means the world to me,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, “and I know it means a lot to our guys.’’

Some officers went through the crowd of children, shaking hands and thanking them.