Sheriff James Pohlmann sworn-in for a second four-year term; Praises the department and says he will work to keep St. Bernard the safest parish in the metro area
Sheriff James Pohlmann was sworn-in Thursday for a second four-year term as St. Bernard Parish Sheriff, saying the credit for his re-election without opposition last year goes to the men and woman of the Sheriff’s Office and the good job they do each day.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy was also sworn-in for another term in a ceremony inside the main courtroom of the Parish Courthouse which included Clerk of Court Randy Nunez’s swearing in and oaths of office for hundreds of sheriff’s officers as well as employees of the Clerk’s office.
“I have a great group of people,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, including ranking officers consisting mostly of those who have graduated the prestigious FBI National Training Academy in Virginia.
Sheriff Pohlmann, Chief Baumy and officers of the department were given their oaths of office for the new term by Robert Klees, retired 4th Court of Appeal Chief Judge and a former member of the St. Bernard Parish Police Juror, forerunner to the Parish Council.
Sheriff Pohlmann’s wife, Monique, and daughters Victoria and Olivia stood next to him for his swearing-in.
Sheriff Pohlmann, who started with the Sheriff’s Office at age 18 in 1983, served in various positions before he was first elected sheriff in November 2011 and took office July 1, 2012. He was re-elected without opposition in 2015.
Baumy has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1984 and was a former New Orleans police detective who was Assistant Commander of Homicide from 1978-84.
The sheriff said he appreciates the support the department receives from the public in St. Bernard Parish.
“These are challenging times in law enforcement,’’ and it is a difficult and dangerous job, he said, referring to the most recent killing of a local police officer in the line of duty, which came in Jefferson Parish just a week ago.
“Don’t think that can’t happen here,’’ he told an audience of officers and employees from the Clerk of Court’s office, which filled the main courtroom. “That’s why I want to make sure our officers are the best trained and best equiped.’’
The sheriff also discussed the numerous accomplishments of his first term, which has included adding more officers, building three sub-stations at parish borders without cost to residents, adding training programs for officers, placing resource officers at Chalmette High to ensure safety for students.
Also the restructuring of the S.W.A.T. team, improving security at the Courthouse, using supervised prison work crews to help with various projects in the parish and a partnership in grants with the St. Bernard Port which has helped the Sheriff’s Office receive a mobile command post, a deep-water patrol boat and a deep-water truck for rescue or moving officers during a rank event.