St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office participates in Night Out Against Crime

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office participates in Night Out Against Crime

On Tuesday night, Oct. 16, several hundred St. Bernard Parish residents from Arabi to the eastern end of the parish gathered to celebrate the National Night Out Against Crime.

Nearly two dozen parties were held in Arabi, Chalmette, Meraux and Violet. Some took place at homes, one was on the grounds of a Chalmette church, and another at a business in Old Arabi.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s deputies attended each event to give crime prevention tips and answer questions.

St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann visited a number of gatherings, conveying the message that it’s the people of St. Bernard Parish who keep it a safe place by backing law enforcement and by being willing to call the Sheriff’s Office if they see something suspicious in their neighborhood.

For the ninth year, the First Pentecostal Church of Chalmette has put out a bounce center for kids on their church grounds, opened their community room and thrown a party with food and refreshments for members and neighbors of the church to get together.

Pastor Otto Martin said the goal is to get people together to support one another and let them know they have something in common – wanting to live in a safe community.

At the church on the corner of Palmisano Boulevard and East St. Bernard Highway, Sheriff Pohlmann spoke to parents and children, congratulating the group for having such large participation each year.

The Sheriff said National Night Out Against Crime is a way for people with something in common – the desire to protect their neighborhood against crime – to get together and pledge to look out for each other’s property and safety.

Sheriff Pohlmann said if something doesn’t look right to you, call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501. It could help prevent a crime.

Capt. Charles Borchers, head of community relations and longtime Crime-Prevention and Neighborhood Watch director for the Sheriff’s Office, also spoke to the crowd about the importance of locking their car doors to deter criminals and he handed out reminder cards with the message.

National Night Out has been celebrated more than 30 years around the nation in August. Several local leaders in Southeast Louisiana opted in 2011 to move the event to October to escape the summer heat.

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out Against Crime was introduced in 1984 to strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts. The annual campaign involves more than 30 million participants, including residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and members of the military.