St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies were first law officers on scene when a woman’s body was found Monday in New Orleans waters and helped NOPD get her ashore

Two St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies, including the commander of the Marine Division, were the first law enforcement officers on the scene in New Orleans waters when a woman’s body was found on Monday and helped New Orleans police get her ashore, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The woman, spotted about noon in the Intracoastal Waterway near the NASA Michould Assembly Facility by someone on a passing tugboat, hadn’t been identified Monday night. She was seen about one-half mile from the flood control structure in the waterway.

The witness called 911 to report seeing the body and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office received the emergency call, then notified New Orleans Police. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Capt. Brian Clark, head of the sheriff’s Marine Division, and Cpl. Shane Lulei were aboard the patrol boat the Sheriff’s Office shares with the St. Bernard Port and were the first law enforcement officers to arrive on the scene where the woman was found in New Orleans waters, the sheriff said.

They later assisted NOPD in getting the woman ashore, some 80 yards away.