Sheriff’s Office holds Appreciation Dinner for its Reserve Division and receives a donation from the Meraux Foundation for helping with their public events

Reserve Division members with Sheriff James Pohlmann, Chief Deputy Richard Baumy and Floyd and Rita Gue of the Meraux Foundation.

Sheriff Pohlmann with Rita Gue at the Appreciation Dinner for Reserves.

A cake for the Reserve Division.

The Reserve Division of the Sheriff’s Office, a volunteer officer group that continues to build back up, was the beneficiary of a donation from the Meraux Foundation at an Appreciation Dinner for the 28 officers involved.

“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 James Pohlmann said. He added that the Reserve Division is special because the officers volunteer without pay and help supplement department manpower.

“It is incredible the job you do,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann told members of the Reserve Division during the Dec. 9 Appreciation Dinner.

He said the group, coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers, supplements regular officers patrolling the streets of St. Bernard as well as working special events such as festivals.

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

Floyd and Rita Gue of the Meraux Foundation were guests and announced they were making a cash donation to the Reserves for the work the division does at their events held for the public. It was the third year they have donated to the Reserve Division.

Mrs. Gue told Reserve Division officers, as well as Sheriff Pohlmann, Chief Deputy Sheriff Richard Baumy, “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.

Centurion Arms and Vinson Uniforms donated gift certificates given to Reserve officers at the Appreciation Dinner.

Any St. Bernard Parish resident interested in applying to be a member of the Reserve Division can contact Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628 for more information.

Applicants must have a clean police record, be a high school graduate who is 21 or older and have a desire to serve their community.