Reserve Division of Sheriff’s Office receives two donations: a cash gift from the Meraux Foundation and Associated Terminals donates four body vests

Rita and Floyd Gue of the Meraux Foundation donated a check to the Reserve Division at an Appreciation Dinner for the Reserves. Shown, in front are Rita and Floyd Gue, and behind them Capt. Joe Ricca of the Reserves, Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Mark Poche and Capt. Charles Borchers,

Jason Perez, an operations manager at Associated Terminals, holds a protective body armor vest with Reserve Division Dep. Sheriff Albert Loar, one of four vests the company is donating to the Sheriff’s Office for the Reserve Division. Shown behind them are Maj. Mark Poche, at left, Sheriff James Pohlmann and Capt. Charles Borchers.

The Reserve Division of the Sheriff’s Office, a volunteer officer group the sheriff is trying to build back up, was the beneficiary of two recent gifts that will help – a cash donation from the Meraux Foundation and a donation of four protective body armor vests from Associated Terminals, exclusive operator of the Port of St. Bernard’s marine facilities, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“We appreciate it when others want to help us protect St. Bernard Parish and our men and women deputies who do the job each day,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, adding the Reserve Division is special because the officers volunteer without pay and help supplement department manpower.

At a recent Appreciation Dinner for Reserve Division members, Floyd and Rita Gue of the Meraux Foundation were guests and announced they were making a cash donation to the Reserves to help with expenses involved.

Mrs. Gue told Reserve Division officers, as well as Sheriff Pohlmann and Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy, that, “I am proud to be a part’’ of helping the Reserves re-build.

Reserve Division officers have worked many public events held on their property, she said, including the Sugar Festival in Arabi, the Jambalya Festival and the Blues in the Parish Festival, both held at Docville in Violet. “I think of all the hours they have worked,’’ Mrs. Gue said of the volunteer officers.

Sheriff Pohlmann, Baumy, Capt. Charles Borchers who coordinates the Reserves as part of his duties, and Capt. Joe Ricca, a ranking officer with the Reserve Division, all thanked the Gues for their donation.

Centurion Arms and Vinson Uniforms donated gift certificates given to Reserve Officers at the Appreciation Diknner.

Also recently, Jason Perez, an operations manager at Associated Terminals in Chalmette, presented a vest at the Sheriff’s Office to the sheriff, Capt. Borchers and Reserve Division Dep. Sheriff Albert Loar.

Associated Terminals operates a fleet of high-capacity floating cranes at 11 facilities including at Chalmette Slip in St. Bernard Parish, in Plaquemines Parish and in Reserve. David Fennelly is director of the company.

Employees at Associated Terminals and the company donated the money to fund the donation of protective body armor, Perez said.

“We are a part of the community,’’ Perez said, “and you are protecting us. Why not help you?”

Sheriff Pohlmann said any company which would like to donate money specifically for a protective vest can contact Maj. David DiMaggio, Training Director for the Sheriff’s Office, at (504) 278-7632.

Sheriff Pohlmann also said he is grateful to the Reserve Division members who donate their time, saying their standard for qualifying is the same for full-time deputies and noted several members recently were hired to be regular deputies.

“I would like to get the Reserve Division up to about 40 or even 50 members,’’ the sheriff said. “We could use that many.’’

Capt. Borchers said he is accepting applications for the Reserve Division from St. Bernard Parish residents who have a clean police record and would like to serve their community.

Borchers can be reached at (504) 278-7628 to apply.