New Mobile Emergency Operations Center will lead two parades and a deputy on board will use the sheriff’s Facebook page to post live updates for the public

Several deputies stand with the new sheriff’s mobile command post that will lead the upcoming Knights of Nemesis Carnival parade on Feb. 22 and the Irish, Italian, Islenos parade.on April 6. Shown are deputies Sgt. Chris Scheeler, Maj. Mark Poche, Sgt. Stephen Ingargiola, Det. Michael Schiro, Capt. Bret Bowen, who will drive the vehicle in the parades, Det. Lt. Richard Mendel and Sgt. Mike Ingargiola.

With parade season upcoming, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will have two firsts: its new Mobile Emergency Operations Center will lead a Carnival parade and the Irish, Italian, Islenos parade, while a deputy on board will use the sheriff’s Facebook page to post live updates of parade locations.

“I look forward to showing our residents and others on the parade routes the Mobile Emergency Operations Center, or Command Post, we acquired last fall through a federal grant,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“Some of you may have seen it being driven through the parish for use during a tropical storm last October or at the Jerry Rathburn 911 Center in Chalmette. It suits our needs well as a command post and will become a fixture in parish parades.

“The new center will be the lead unit in both the 9th anniversary parade of the Knights of Nemesis, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, and the Irish, Italian, Islenos parade at noon on Sunday, April 6,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The Operations Center will coordinate the running of the parades as well as road closings as it moves along the route, he said.

And, as the Operations Center rolls along Judge Perez Drive in both parades, inside the vehicle Capt. Angie Huff will post live updates on the parades’ location on the Sheriff’s Facebook page. Capt. Bret Bowen will be driving the Mobile Emergency Operations Center.

It’s the first time such live updates for the location of the beginning of a parade have been posted by the Sheriff’s Office. Also look at the sheriff’s Facebook page for updates on the latest news involving law enforcement in St. Bernard Parish.

“We hope people, especially children, find it to be fun and helpful to know when a parade will approach their location,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The Mobile Emergency Operations Center was acquired through a federal grant and was delivered in September 2013.

Retired New Orleans Saint fan favorite Deuce McAllister and current Saint player Will Smith have been named Celebrity Knights for the Knights of Nemesis Carnival parade, organization President Billy Showalter said.

The Irish, Italian, Islenos parade annually features throws of vegetables including cabbage, carrots and potatoes to the crowd, celebrating three cultures of the parish.