Sheriff James Pohlmann thanks volunteers in the Reserve Division as 10 graduate a basic law enforcement training program; Says the public notices the professionalism officers display

Eight men and two women in the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division graduated an 80-hour course in basic law enforcement on Jan. 15. Shown at the graduation are, seated from left, Reserve Division members Harold Larter, Dennis Trocchiano, Tanya Palazzalo, Melissa Wickboldt and Michael Bendich and Dep. Eric Eillers of the Community Relations Division. In back, from left, are Reserve deputies Ray Tauzier, Edward Manint and Raul Vallecillo, Maj. Mark Poche, commander of the Special Operations Division which includes Reserves; Reserve Michael Chutz, head of Training Maj. David DiMaggio, Reserve Simon Gonzales, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Reserve Capt. Joe Ricca and Capt. Charles Borchers, who heads the Reserve Division.

Sheriff James Pohlmann thanked volunteers who donate their time to the department’s Reserve Division at a ceremony in which eight men and two women graduated a basic law enforcement 80-hour training program and told them the public notices the professionalism officers display.

Gone are the old days when new officers with little training were put on the streets to patrol St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Pohlmann said at a ceremony in the Sheriff’s Office Training Center in Chalmette.

Today, the emphasis is on training, the sheriff said, whether an officer is full-time or a volunteer in the Reserve Division, which supplements the work of the regular force.

The sheriff thanked the Reserve Division officers for giving up their personal time to help keep St. Bernard Parish safe.

“Law enforcement is challenging today,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “It says a lot about people willing to do the job of law enforcement.’’

“We are fortunate’’ in the parish, the sheriff said. “We have a good relationship with the community, based on trust.”

The public notices the professionalism of our officers and gives the department high job performance ratings, he said. “And it is because of the job you do.’’

The Reserve Division, headed by Capt. Charles Borchers who is also head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office, is now up to nearly 30 members.

In the Jan. 15 ceremony, eight men and five women from the group graduated an 80-hour basic law enforcement training program given by various instructors.

Those Reserve Division members who underwent the training were Tanya Palazzalo, Michael Bendich, Raul Vallecillo, Simon Gonzales, Michael Chutz, Harold Larter, Edward Manint, Dennis Trocchiano, Ray Tauzier and Melissa Wickboldt.

Larter and Vallecillo were recognized for receiving the group’s “Always There Award,’’ which is named in honor of Deputy Sheriff Sgt. Johnny Huff, now deceased, who started as a St. Bernard reserve deputy in the 1980s and became a full-time officer in 1995.

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 for further information and applicants will be directed to fill out further paper work.

To apply for the Reserve Division an applicant:

– Must live in St. Bernard Parish.
– Be able to pass a background check and a drug screen, which would be done on all applicants.
– Be at least 21 years old.
– Have attained a GED or better.