Sheriff Pohlmann was guest speaker as five sheriff’s deputies graduated the St. Charles Parish Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., Academy

Shown after the P.O.S.T. graduation ceremony are, from left, Col. David Mowers, head of the Corrections Division; graduates Deputies Frank Auderer III and Alisha Casbon; Sheriff James Pohlmann, graduates Sgt. Tracy Canino, Lt. Joshua Correa and Dep. Joseph Bowen and Maj. David DiMaggio, head of training for the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Pohlmann addresses more than 20 graduates as guest speaker.	Dep. Joseph Bowen receives his certificate.
Lt. Joshua Correa receives his graduation certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.	Dep. Alisha Casbon receives her certificate.
Deputy Frank Auderer III receives his certificate.	Sgt. Tracy Canino receives her certificate.

Five St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies, three working in the Corrections Division and two in Communications, were graduated Thursday night, May 23, from the Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., basic police academy at the St. Charles Parish Regional P.O.S.T. Academy.

Graduates from the Sheriff’s Office included Lt. Joshua Correa of the medical staff in St. Bernard Parish Prison; deputies Frank Auderer III and Joseph Bowen; both also of the Corrections Division; and Sgt. Tracy Canino and Dep. Alisha Casbon, both of the Communications Division. Bowen was awarded the Top Gun award for best marksman in the graduating class of more than 20 officers.

Sheriff James Pohlmann was guest speaker in a ceremony held at Destehan High School, telling graduates from seven agencies they must remember to responsibly use the power they exercise over people they deal with as law enforcement officers.

“Your success will be measured not by how many people you arrest but by how many you help,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He also said police can usually accomplish the same thing by being courteous to the citizens they deal with as by being heavy-handed.

Sheriff Pohlmann looked back on his 31 years in law enforcement, telling graduates there have been enormous changes in technology that helps police, such as computers and weaponry. But he also reminded them technology now makes it possible for inexpensive video cameras to be everywhere, making it likely that much of what they do on the job will be seen.

Police should assume whatever they do in dealing with others may be recorded, he said.

As well as the sheriff, others representing St. Bernard’s Sheriff’s Office at the ceremony included Col. David Mowers, head of the Corrections Division; Maj. David DiMaggio, director of training; Det. Al Clavin, Capt. Adrian Chalona and Dep. Eric Eilers.

The academy includes about 400 hours of training in basic police work including firearms use, criminal investigation, patrol procedure, writing reports, driving training, physical fitness and other areas of police work.