Dale Carnegie course on public speaking and leadership training had a positive effect for a Sheriff’s Deputy

Carlo Cacioppo has received training of many types as an agent with the Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit.

But a different type of training has had a positive effect on him, Cacioppo said.

He recently completed the Dale Carnegie course in public speaking and leadership training, something Sheriff James Pohlmann has approved for several deputies in recent years.

The idea is to aid officers in dealing with the public and to promote professionalism, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Cacioppo, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office for seven years, said he found the course that is taught one night a week for eight weeks was interesting and informative.

In fact, he won the highest award for achievement in his group.

“I was selected by the commanders’’ to take the class, Cacioppo said. “I didn’t know anything about it.’’

But it had a positive effect on him, he said. “No doubt it was one of the best training classes I have ever had,’’ Cacioppo said.

Dale Carnegie, who passed away years ago, perfected the technique that helps people who may even have had fears about public speaking become poised and polished.

The group’s web site says they use techniques including voice modulation, attention focusing and idea pyramids for creating impact and audience persuasion.

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

D.A.R.E. 1st Place essay winners at Prompt Succor were, . from left. Madelyn Lopez and Curstin Lopez and 2nd Place essay winners were Londyn Melerine and Haleigh Martin. In back are Col. Robert McNab, D.A.R.E. instructor Sgt. Darrin Miller, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Lt. Robert Broadhead, Capt. Ronnie Martin and D.A.R.E. program commander Lt. Lisa Jackson.

D.A.R.E. 1st Place essays winners at Gauthier Elementary, from left, are Madison Zalaya, Madyson Lacourse, Sydney Guerra and Harley Schiro. and 2nd Place essay winners were Shalyr Ceaser, Madilynn Moss. Olivia D’Antoni and Warren Guidroz. In back are Capt. Ronnie Martin, Principal Lisa Young, Col. Robert McNab, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Lt. Robert Broadhead, D.A.R.E. instructor Sgt. Darrin Miller and D.A.R.E. program commander Lt. Lisa Jackson.

Sheriff James Pohlmann addresses students and their relatives at Prompt School’s D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony.

D.A.R.E. graduates at Gauthier perform one of the D.A.R.E. program songs.

Sheriff James Pohlmann seemed delighted when he asked 5th-graders graduating the Sheriff’s Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education program at Prompt Succor Schppl what they had learned and one boy answered “to make good choices.’’

It was music to the sheriff’s ears because the importance of making good choices is what he emphasizes to students at each graduation of the D.A.R.E. program, taught by instructors from the Sheriff’s Office to every fifth-grader in the parish.

“It’s refreshing to hear they realize it comes down to making good choices in life,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said after the ceremony. “That’s the answer you are hoping to get to that question.’’

D.A.R.E. is aimed at trying to keep youngsters from using drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, or taking part in violence or bullying others.

The sheriff, speaking this week at D.A.R.E. graduations and large turnouts of relatives at Prompt Succor and Gauthier Elementary, said kids can only lead productive lives if they make the right choices, including listening to their parents and teachers and deciding who they should and shouldn’t associate with.

About 90 children graduated the D.A.R.E. program at Gauthier and about 50 at Prompt Succor.

The sheriff praised parents for coming out 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.

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.

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

“Drugs destroy your life, your family and your community,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. The parish jail is filled with people who are there because of drug problems, either because they were arrested with drugs or the need for money to buy drugs led them to get caught stealing or burglarizing, the sheriff said.

“If you think drugs are a non-violent offense,’’ the sheriff said, “I can take you to cemeteries’’ where people who have died from using drugs are buried.

“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.

Sheriff Pohlmann said while D.A.R.E. is a good program he would like to see it expanded to be a regular course in school for grades one through 12.

That would put money on the front end of the problem to get to kids through education, perhaps giving them a chance of avoiding becoming addicted and then either getting arrested for drugs or after committing crimes seeking money for drugs. That would be better than paying on the back end for incarcerating them, the sheriff said.

Also, the sheriff said, there is a crucial need for treatment programs for addiction – especially for young people – so that it isn’t available only to the rich or those with great insurance.

Also, the sheriff said he favors prison sentences for anyone who sells drugs.

Several hundred 5th-grade students graduate each semester from the D.A.R.E. program given by St. Bernard sheriff’s officers Lt. Lisa Jackson, commander of the program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller. The D.A.R.E. program, held in both public and private schools, was re-established in 2009, four years after Hurricane Katrina.

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Road Closure on St. Bernard Highway at Palmisano Blvd. dut to roadway repairs

St. Bernard Highway at Palmisano Boulevard will be closed to all east and west bound traffic for roadway repairs, according to parish government.

The road will be closed on Friday December 16th at 5:00 pm and will reopen on Saturday December 17th at 5:00 pm. If there are any issues or concerns, please call the Department of Public Works at 504-278-4300.

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Teen-age male wanted for murder in Memphis arrested in Violet and was carrying a stolen handgun

A young man who ran from sheriff’s deputies in Violet the night of Dec. 11 has been identified as an 18-year-old wanted for first-degree murder in Memphis for the 2015 death of a man shot 13 times by two people, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kyle Baptiste, who was in a vacant lot with others on a Violet street about 8 p.m., ran as agents from the Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit approached to see what they were doing, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

An officer who chased him until Baptiste complied with an order to stop saw the teen-ager throw down something that turned out to be a .40-caliber handgun.
Baptiste, once identified, was determined to have a warrant out for his arrest from Memphis on a first-degree murder charge, the sheriff said. The gun had been reported stolen in Memhis but it wasn’t known if it was used in the murder, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Baptiste was wanted for the July 4, 2015, killing of a man when Baptiste was 16.

A second suspect is in custody in Memphis. Baptiste and the other suspect allegedly shot the victim 13 times between them and stole a small amount of marijuana from him, St. Bernard authorities learned.

Baptiste was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison as a fugitive from Memphis and was also booked with illegal carrying of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm and resisting arrest.

Baptiste said he has family in the New Orleans area.

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LA 46, Bayou LaLoutre Bridge (Yscloskey Bridge), Temporary Closure

La 46, Bayou LaLoutre Bridge (Yscloskey Bridge) will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 8:00 PM on Wednesday, December 14th through 6:00 AM on Thursday, December 15th while crews perform repairs to the existing bridge deck.

The bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic and there are no available alternate routes. Government offices have made arrangements to provide emergency response services during the closure.

St. Bernard Parish Government and DOTD cautions motorists to please drive with caution and be on the look out for work crews and their equipment.

If there are any issues or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Works at 504-278-4300.

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Three Men Arrested for Theft and Commercial Fishing Violations in St. Bernard Parish

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested three men on Dec. 11 for allegedly selling stolen oysters among other commercial fishing violations.

Agents arrested Jerome Robin, 33, Daryl Robin, 32, and Richard Robin, 35, all of St. Bernard, for simple theft. Jerome Robin was also cited for possession of untagged oysters, violations of the state’s health code for refrigeration and falsifying the log sheet on the vessel. Richard Robin was also cited for selling seafood without a wholesale/retail dealer’s license.

Agents received a call from a private oyster lease holder about three men he hired to fish his oyster leases that were seen offloading nine sacks of his oysters without his permission. The Robin’s loaded the stolen sacks of oysters into a minivan in Hopedale to fulfill orders they had taken on a social media St. Bernard group website. The three men were also falsifying the log sheets to hide the stolen oyster sacks they were taking from the lease holder.

When the men were stopped by LDWF and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Division they were in possession of nine untagged and unrefrigerated oyster sacks. When agents presented them with the evidence of the orders for the illegal sales they admitted to selling them without the lease holders permission.

All three men were booked in the St. Bernard Parish Jail. Agents seized and destroyed the nine sacks of oysters because of the refrigeration and log book violations.

Simple theft carries up to a $1,000 fine and six months of jail. Possession of untagged oysters, Department of Health and Hospitals refrigeration violation and operation of a vessel under suspension carries a max penalty of $750 for each offense and 120 days in jail. Violations of the state’s sanitation code for the log book violation carries a $25 fine.

LDWF agents participating in the case are Lt. Adam Young and Senior Agent Blaine Wagner and St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Shane Lulei.

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Refuse to be a Victim lecture gives residents tips on recommended locks, light timers and other security measures, as well as advice on being aware of surroundings

Dep. Eric Eilers talks to the class about paying attention to their surroundings to help prevent becoming a crime victim.

Capt. Charles Borchers shows the Refuse to be a Victim class an item he recommends for security.

There are several things which scare away burglars that home or business owners should remember when they look at their vulnerability to criminals, according to Capt. Charles Borchers of the Sheriff’s Office.

“They don’t like to be slowed down, and they don’t like noise or lights,’’ Borchers told participants in the annual Refuse to be a Victim class recently held by the Sheriff’s Office. “They don’t want anything that attracts attention.’’

Alarm systems that make noise, lighting around a home or business, motion detectors and anything that would slow down a burglary increase an owner’s chance of avoiding becoming a victim, Borchers said.

That was some of the numerous tips Borchers and Dep. Eric Eilers had for St. Bernard Parish residents who turned out Dec. 7 for the Sheriff’s Office free crime prevention program called Refuse to be a Victim.

Capt. Borchers, longtime crime prevention director for the department, and Eilers engaged participants and gave tips on strategies for being aware of your surroundings to avoid becoming a crime victim.

Call Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Eilers at 278-7799 to start a Neighborhood Watch group in your area or learn about other free programs the Sheriff’s Office holds for residents.

Borchers stresses in the Refuse to be a Victim course that, “You have to have a mental plan of action’’ at home or when traveling in order to be alert for potential criminals. Seminar topics include safety at home, as well as phone, technology, travel and personal security.

He recommends double cylinder deadbolt locks with large screws put an inch into a large, solid frame so a door can’t be easily kicked open.

Use strong locks and place peep holes on home doors, Borchers said. Light-timers such as for lamps, alarm systems, video surveillance and motion sensors are all sound anti-crime strategies, he said.

“Why did we ever get away from chain locks?’’ he asked. “They let you open a door a small ways so you can see who is there.’’

And he said peep holes made for doors today offer a much wider view of the outside area to better see who is there.

Residents should consider having sticker bushes near windows at home to discourage anyone from trying to get inside that way.

The laundry room in a home is often the most vulnerable spot for an intruder to enter because it rarely faces the front, Borchers said. But using a stick-on alarm on a window provides some protection against easy entry.

Never leave a garage door opener in an easily spotted place in an unlocked car outside the home, Borchers said. Once an intruder gets into the garage they can work unseen to get into the residence.

Borchers added, “I’m a proponent of alarm systems’’ at home but said he doesn’t see a great advantage to having one that is monitored by a company that charges a fee and says it will call authorities if they detect a problem.

Instead, an alarm system that loudly goes off at a home will both likely scare away an intruder and, if you aren’t home at the time, will alert any neighbor who is home, making it probable the Sheriff’s Office will be called, Borchers said.

And he said there are motion sensors now that when tripped make a sound like a dog barking in the residence, giving a would-be intruder something to think about.

Eilers addressed the fact that in today’s world people are often walking while having a conversation on a cell phone, paying little or no attention to their surroundings and making themselves more vulnerable to being assaulted.

Paying attention as you walk about makes it much less likely of becoming a victim of crime, Eilers said.

Borchers and Eilers also went over various situations with participants, such as asking what they would do if they are home and someone came to the door saying they had a package for them to sign for – but there wasn’t a delivery truck outside.

Or what if a stranger comes to your door and asks to use a phone?

Borchers said if there is no delivery truck near-by it is reasonable to ask someone wanting you to sign for a package to leave what they have at your door while they stand at the sidewalk.

Same thing for someone asking to use a phone, he said. Tell them to give you the number and you will call. “You don’t have to let a stranger in your home, especially if you are alone.’’

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Louisiana State Police Arrest St. Bernard man for possession of more than $390,000 of stolen vehicles

Louisiana State Police detectives assigned to the Bureau of Investigations Auto Theft/Insurance Fraud Unit have arrested Demetrius Robinson, 38, of St. Bernard Parish on five counts of possession of stolen property, totaling approximately $393,000.00 worth of stolen vehicles.

Robinson was booked Dec. 5 into the Orleans Parish Locu-up.

On that same day, detectives received information from the Gramercy Police Department related to a stolen 18-wheeler that was parked at 10095 Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans, State Police said Friday.

They said that after detectives verified the information, a search warrant was signed for the property.

A total of five stolen vehicles were located on the property and included a 2006 Peterbilt, a 2010 Hyundai Excavator, a 2002 Peterbilt, a 2015 Mercedes and a 2007 GMC truck.

During the search of the premises, Robinson drove onto the property in the stolen 2006 Peterbilt and was arrested, State Police said. Robinson is currently the lessee of the property.

They said the case remains under investigation.

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C.O.P.S. for Christmas program and parish Battered Women’s Shelter get donations of stuffed animals to give to families

If it’s December, Michael B. Chutz is in the Christmas giving mood and the Sheriff’s Office’s C.O.P.S. for Christmas program and the parish Battered Women’s Shelter are the beneficiaries.

This is the fourth Christmas season that Chutz, a Reserve Division sheriff’s deputy and a volunteer and board member of the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi and its foundation, has been buying and donating stuffed Teddy Bears for children.

Funding comes from the Michael B. Chutz Fund in the St. Bernard Kiwanis Foundation.

“This is the fourth Christmas I have donated stuffed animals to the St. Bernard Battered Women’s Shelter for the children of the families there and the third year to the C.O.P.S. for Christmas program with the St. Bernard Sheriff Office,’’ said Chutz, who is retired.

The C.O.P.S. for Christmas program, which started in 2010, finds families who need held through social agencies and donates presents for the children and a Christmas tree or food for the holidays for the families. The Battered Women’s Shelter, as its name suggests, helps women and their families who have been the victim of domestic problems.

Chutz donates six dozen of the Teddy Bears to help the two causes.

Whatever the C.O.P.S. for Christmas program doesn’t use goes to the Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Division or Reserve Division for deputies to give to children they encounter in the course of their duties.

“I enjoy giving back to St. Bernard and bringing a little joy to a child at Christmas,’’ said Chutz, who said both the Battered Women’s Shelter and C.O.P.S. for Christmas are among many worthwhile causes in the parish.

“Merry Christmas to St. Bernard and I hope these little gifts of mine spark others to pay it forward,’’ Chutz said. “Thanks for all the fond memories of growing up in Da Parish.’

Anyone interested in donating to the C.O.P.S. for Christmas program can call the St Bernard Sheriff Office at (504) 271-2501 or to donate to the Battered Women’s Shelter call (504) 277-3177.

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Sheriff Pohlmann appointed to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission by Gov. Edwards

Sheriff James Pohlmann has been appointed to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, representing the 1st Congressional District, by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

“I want to be involved in overseeing programs which promote safety on the state highway systems,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Too many people are needlessly killed or injured each year in traffic accidents.”

The Highway Safety Commission is responsible for developing and administering the state’s traffic safety program by cooperating with the federal government and other entities for the purpose of highway safety.

It prepares highway safety plans; studies, evaluates and prepares statistics regarding motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths and obtains federal funds for use within the state for highway safety purposes.

The Commission also administers the state’s highway safety grant program. Programs and projects are administered in accordance with uniform guidelines,

Projects implemented by the LHSC are limited to priority program areas, based on severity of the crash, over-representation, and magnitude of the problem.

Driver factors (including driving after drinking, speeding, not using occupant protection devices, etc.) contribute to some of the most severe traffic crashes. LHSC’s highway safety plan seeks to coordinate and unite state and local programs and projects to reduce traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries by focusing on enforcement, public information and education, and legislation.

Other appointments by the governor to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission were: Charles W. “Wally” McMakin of Baton Rouge; Sheriff Andy N. Brown of Jonesboro; John C. Snow, of Baton Rouge; Fabian P. Blache Jr., of Baton Rouge; Cheri M. Ausberry of Baton Rouge; Michael P. Kazerooni Sr., of Kentwood, police chief for the Town of Kentwood, who will serve as an at-large member on the commission; Christopher J. Tyson of Baton Rouge; Karleen J. Green of Baton Rouge; James C. “Carl” Pendley of Shreveport; Jason M. Hughes of New Orleans; and Dennis C. Pevey of Ponchatoula.

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