Sheriff’s Office receives Arc of GNO’s Community Service Award for commitment to the restoration of its programming and facilities in Chalmette

Sheriff Pohlmann has visited twice at the Arc Center since it opened in Chalmette more than a year ago. He is shown here with volunteers and the adults who are brought to the center to work on community projects Monday through Friday.

Sheriff James Pohlmann accepts an award from Arc on behalf of the department. Shown with the sheriff are Arc volunteer Polly Campbell, Kristi Andre, who is site director for the Arc Center in Chalmette; and Cliff Doescher, Arc Executive Director. Photo provided by Arc.

Trusty prisoner crews work regularly throughout the parish picking up trash, planting trees and mowing grass. Shown from Dep. Sheriff James Harper’s crew are Earl Harris and Christopher Robin. Photo. proiided by Arc.

Arc of Greater New Orleans, an organization that provides a support system for intellectually disabled adults in the area, has awarded the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office with one of its prestigious Community Service awards.

The award was for the department’s on-going commitment to the restoration of Arc programming and facilities, as well as community beautification effortsprovided by the Sheriff’s office including planting trees and picking up litter on highways.

Sheriff James Pohlmann has consistently supported the non-profit Arc program based at the old Prince of Peace church grounds on Jean Lafitte Parkway, including providing prison labor to help with renovation and clean-up at the Chalmette location.

Sheriff Pohlmann has also visited the program twice to talk with the adults involved there. He was heartily greeted last August when he and Community Relations head Capt. Charles Borchers visited the Arc of Greater New Orleans Center in Chalmette. Last May, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics in St. Bernard started and ended at the Arc Center and some of the adults of the center rode bicycles put together by prison labor to take part in the Torch Run.

More than 20 intellectually disabled adults ranging in age from their 20s to about 70 and who live in St. Bernard and part of New Orleans spend the day Monday through Friday at the center. They takie part in supervised activities including community service projects. Kristi Andre is program coordinator for the center in Chalmette.

The sheriff receiived the award at a recent ceremony, also accepting on behalf of Capt. Adrian Chalona and Sheriff’s Deputy James Harper, who were singled out for their work with trusty prisoner crews who do community service work outside the St. Bernard Parish Prison.

Sheriff Pohlmann said, “I appreciate our department being recognized by Arc for the community service work we do with our prison work program. I will also continue to do what we can to help Arc and I respect the work they do for adults with intellectual disabilities.”

Arc, in a statement issued for the award, said, “Sometimes, doing your job falls outside of the definitions normally ascribed to your office. Such is the case of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, whose job is to keep St. Bernard citizens and properties safe.

“To most of us that means deputies riding around in patrol cars issuing speeding tickets or arresting criminals,’’ the statement said. “However, because of the strong commitment to not only guarding but helping to foster a healthy, vibrant community, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, under Sheriff James Pohlmann, adds community service to its daily duties.

“St. Bernard Parish Prison trusty crews work regularly throughout the parish picking up trash, planting trees and mowing grass and at Christmas time can also be seen putting up and taking down the candy canes that line Judge Perez Drive.”

Arc volunteer Polly Cambell, who is executive director of the St. Bernard Community Foundation, said, “I love the work program that gives trusty prison inmates the opportunity to form healthy relationships with community members.’’ So much has been accomplished to beautify St. Bernard through prison workers planning trees, picking up litter and keeping Pearl Harbor Park on Paris Road mowed and clean, Campblall said.

“Who do we want back on our streets? Angry inmates who can’t wait to get out or ones who are heavily invested in major community projects they have worked on,’’ Campbell said.