St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to hold drug take-back day

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann encourages residents to properly dispose of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, Oct. 28 as the Sheriff’s Office participates in the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back.

Narcotics officers with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will accept unwanted medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the department’s substation, 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, near the corner of Aycock Street.

“Residents should take this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of unused drugs so they don’t fall into the hands of youngsters who might misuse them or thieves who could sell them on our streets,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The initiative, part of a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has seen more than 4.8 million pounds of prescription drugs collected since its inception in 2010.

St. Bernard residents who are unable to attend the local take-back event can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-DOPE or 3673 at any time to speak with a deputy about surrendering unwanted medications, Sheriff Pohlmann said. A narcotics officer will return the call and make arrangements to collect and destroy the drugs.

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Closed for Columbus Day

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 9 in observance of Columbus Day. The administrative offices will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies visit with local school children

Sgt. Eric Eilers hands out deputy badge stickers to pre-K students at J.F Gauthier Elementary School in eastern St. Bernard.	J.F. Gauthier Elementary School pre-K students learn about how handcuffs are used by deputies from Sgt. Eric Eilers.
J.F. Gauthier Elementary School pre-K students got a chance to climb through Sgt. Eric Eilers’ patrol unit.	Lt. Brent Bourgeois speaks to students at Joseph Davies Elementary School in Meraux.
Agent Brian Canepa, left, Agent Chelsie Soulagnet, center, and Capt. Bret Bowen, right, give Joseph Davies Elementary School pre-K students a lift inside and out of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office SWAT truck.	Capt. Ronnie Martin, left, and Lt. Pat Childress give Joseph Davies Elementary pre-K students a chance to sit in a St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle.
Deputies from the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office received a ‘thank you’ poster from pre-K students they visited with at Joseph Davis Elementary School. With the poster are, from left: Capt. Ronnie Martin, Capt. Bret Bowen, Agent Brian Canepa, Agent Chelsie Soulagnet, Lt. Mike Ingargiola, and Lt. Brent Bourgeois.	Deputies from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office recently visited with pre-K students at Joseph Davies Elementary School.

Deputies from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Community Relations division and the SWAT team recently visited with local elementary school students to speak about officer duties and show them various vehicles and equipment used by the department.

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St. Bernard Sheriff’s office to distribute sandbags

Due to conditions expected from Tropical Storm Nate, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will distribute free sandbags to parish residents Friday, Oct. 6 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the sandbag barn in the old Kaiser facility at the rear of the Port of St. Bernard in Chalmette.

“We have sandbags that have been pre-made and are ready to be given to residents of St. Bernard,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said. Parish prisoners make the sandbags throughout the year in preparation for the next hurricane season.

St. Bernard residents must show proof of residency in order to receive sandbags, and there will be a limit of 15 per vehicle, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Motorists wishing to pick up the sandbags at the Port can enter the road to the port off West St. Bernard Highway at Keane Drive, next to the old Kaiser smokestack, and follow the road to the rear of the port, near the Mississippi River levee. Deputies will be there to assist, the Sheriff said.

The Sheriff’s Office is monitoring weather conditions associated with Tropical Storm Nate and are in constant contact with local parish government leaders, officials from surrounding parishes and the National Weather Service.

“We’re reviewing our plans and are ready for this rain event,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “We also are prepared to bring in extra manpower to help with traffic control and road closures if need be.”

Sheriff Pohlmann reminds residents to use caution when driving down residential streets with standing water. Residents who drive down flooded streets, endangering the property of others, can be fined up to $500.

Residents who would like to report any problems or suspicious activity in their neighborhood can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

“We are urging all residents and businesses to get prepared and stay informed,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office attends first annual Recover Rally

Pastor Aaron Johnson, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office chaplain, and pastor for The Gathering.

Capt. Adrian Chalona, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office corrections division.

St. Bernard Parish Residents of Recovery recently joined forces with local mental health community resources to present the 1st annual St. Bernard Parish National Recovery Month Rally. Held Sept. 23 in the St. Bernard Parish government complex council chambers in Chalmette, the event featured guest speakers from various local organizations who touched on substance abuse and mental health resources which are available within the community.

Members of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office who were in attendance included Capt. Adrian Chalona, corrections division; Stanley Simeon, coordinator of the department’s Addiction Resource Program; and Pastor Aaron Johnson, Sheriff’s Office chaplain.

National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. For more information about Recovery Month, visit recoverymonth.gov/about.

For more information about the Sheriff’s Office Addiction Resource Program, call Stanley Simeon at (504) 517-2944 or (504) 278-7659. The program offers guidance for those suffering from alcohol addiction, substance abuse, gambling and life controlling problems. Participation is confidential.

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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy’s 19th year

Col. Chad Clark, chief of detectives of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Crime Investigations Bureau, speaks to Citizens Police Academy participants about the importance of locking their vehicles to deny thieves easy access and the dangers caused by social media. With Col. Clark are, from left: Lt. Michelle Canepa, commander of the Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detective Bureau, and Capt. Mark Jackson, assistant chief of detectives of the Crime Investigations Bureau.	Lt. Mike Ingargiola, of the Traffic Division, speaks to Citizens Police Academy participants about speeding and the use of radar guns by Sheriff’s Office deputies in an effort to ensure motorist safely.
Capt. Ronnie Martin, assistant commander of the Special Investigations Division and the SWAT team, speaks to members of the 2017 Citizens Police Academy about the SWAT team’s role at the Sheriff’s Office.	Capt. Bret Bowen, who oversees equipment for the Sheriff’s Office, shows off the many attributes of the department’s Mobile Command Post to members of the 2017 Citizens Police Academy.
Sgt. Chris Scheeler, of the Special Operations division, left, and Capt. Daniel Doucet, a member of the Bomb Squad, speak to Citizens Police Academy participants about how the Sheriff’s Office bomb robot is used by the department.	Cpl. Tommy Duplessis, of the Special Investigations Division Street Crimes Unit, left, and Lt. Robert Roger, of the SID Narcotics Division, show members of the Citizens Police Academy some of the equipment used by the department.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is currently about halfway through the 19th session of its Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program designed to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.

This year’s program, which kicked off Aug. 23 and will wrap up with a graduation ceremony on Oct. 26, is affording a few dozen residents with an inside look at the multiple aspects of police work.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said participants have been hearing from veteran representatives of each division of the Sheriff’s Office who speak on various phases of law enforcement, including patrol work, narcotics enforcement, detective duties, and SWAT team demonstrations.

“This course gives great insight on how and why things are handled in a certain manner,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The annual course is coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers.

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