Incumbent James Pohlmann wins second four-year term as sheriff of St. Bernard Parish as no one files to run against him on October ballot

State District Judge Kirk Vaughn shakes hands with Sheriff Pohlmann	Numerous deputies gather with Sheriff Pohlmann after the victory.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy, second in charge of the department under the sheriff, and the sheriff hug in the celebration.	District Attorney Perry Nicosia with Sheriff Pohlmann.

Sheriff James Pohlmann gets a congratulatory hug in the Courthouse lobby from Jo Ann Lane, head of the Civil Division of the Sheriff’s Office, after he wins a second term on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.

Incumbent Sheriff James Pohlmann won a second four-year term as sheriff of St. Bernard Parish unopposed when no one filed to run against him by the end of the three-day qualifying period on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, for the October election.

“I am honored to have another four-year term as sheriff of a great parish,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said in the Courthouse lobby after the qualifying period ended and he was being deluged with congratulations from well-wishers.

“I think people in this parish have confidence in their Sheriff’s Office because of the job done by the men and women of this department.’’ He continued, “I knew at the end if the day I’d be graded on the job they do in this parish.’’

“We pride ourselves on a good response time to calls from the public and promise that if you need us we will be there as quickly as possible,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, pledging to continue that as the top priority.
The sheriff also vowed to continue an emphasis on training of deputies to keep the Sheriff’s Office a professionally run organization.

The next term begins July 1, 2016.

James Pohlmann has been with the St. Bermard Sheriff’s Office for 32 years since starting at the age of 18 in 1983, working for then-Sheriff Ralph McDougall.

He moved up the ranks in Sheriff Jack Stephens’s 24-year tenure as sheriff, eventually becoming Chief Deputy, then running for sheriff and winning in a run-off election in 2011 when Stephens retired.

As Chief Deputy and later sheriff, Pohlmann inaugurated several new and free programs for the public and advanced training programs for deputy sheriffs.

Under Sheriff Pohlmann, for the first time uniform hiring and promotion procedures were established including creating a hiring board consisting of veteran deputies to interview and review applicants for employment and make recommendations. The sheriff also realigned the department’s command structure.