St. Bernard groups gathered for the National Night Out Against Crime sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office which provided deputies to give crime prevention tips

Capt. Charles Borchers, who coordinates the National Night Out Against Crime event for the Sheriff’s Office, speaks to a gathering at the Pentecostal Church in Chalmette.

Children prepare to enter a bounce tent at a party in Chalmette.	Sheriff’s Deputy Jules Henry with Carol and Al Beaubouef at their party in the Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux.
Kevin Gabriel, top right, at a National Night Out Against crime party he hosts in Violet.	Emily Hanson holds her daughter, Elizabeth, age two, who is looking down to examine her Junior Deputy badge she just received at a Night Out Against Crime party in Meraux.

-Kevin Gabriel of Violet says he has been hosting a party with relatives in their old neighborhood for years to celebrate National Night Out Against Crime because they think it important to talk to neighbors and show unity in a battle against crime.

“You have to try to make a difference,’’ said Gabriel, a minister and head of the St. Bernard chapter of the NAACP. He helped host an outdoor party on Daniel Drive in Violet on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, for the National Night Out Against Crime event,

“By coming out and talking to neighbors you share things and find out what people need done.’’

Carol and Al Beaubouef have been holding a National Night Out Against Crime party at their home in Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux.”I believe in the idea of watching out for the neighborhood’’ and it helps that when neighbors get together, Carol Beaubouef said.

Several hundred St. Bernard residents turned out at homes, on the grounds of a Pentecostal church and at Nunez Community College in communities including Arabi, Chalmette, Meraux, Violet and Poydras.

Sheriff’s deputies attended each event to give crime prevention tips and answer questions.

Sheriff James Pohlmann has said he supports National Night Out Against Crime as a way for people with something in common – the desire to protect their neighborhood against crime – to get together and pledge to look out for another’s property.

Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office and head of the Neighborhood Watch program, said the parish continues to see residents having parties for the Night Out Against Crime.

“We at the Sheriff’s Office want to work hand-in-hand with the people,’’ Borchers said. “We think participation by the public in such things as National Night Out Against Crime, Neighborhood Watch and the free Citizens Police Academy offered by the Sheriff’s Office is a show of their support to work with us.’’

“St. Bernard needs everyone to pull together to remain a safe place to raise a family,” Borchers said.

He told Night Out participants at a giant event sponsored by the Pentecostal Church that while crime is low in the parish, the Sheriff’s Office needs the cooperation of residents to keep it that way.

“Don’t hesitate to call us if you see something in your neighborhood that doesn’t look right to you,’’ he said, adding only residents will notice something that doesn’t belong, such as a strange vehicle in someone driveway when you know they are gone that afternoon.

Call the S.O. at (504) 271-2501 and you could be helping prevent crime such as a burglary or theft. And he added to remember to include details when you call such as the color and type of a strange vehicle you see or what color clothes people are wearing because that helps if they are gone when deputies get their and they begin to look for them, Borchers said.

“Don’t ever think you are bothering us if you call the Sheriff’s Office,’’ Borchers said. “ We want to know what you are seeing.’’

Borchers also heads the Reserve Officers Division and coordinates the free classes held for Citizens Police Academy and the free Refuse to be a Victim program. Call Borchers at 278-7628 if interested in participating in any of these programs or if you are a parish resident and would like to be considered for the Reserve Division.

National Night Out Against Crime is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and was introduced in 1984 to strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts.

The National Night Out campaign involves more than 30 million, including residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and at military b