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.
St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann gets a warm welcome from some of his biggest fans during a National Night Out Against Crime party in Chalmette. 
Sheriff James Pohlmann hands out a some plastic deputy badges at a Night Out Against Crime party held at Patricia Park 
Sheriff James Pohlmann speaks with Violet resident Russell Banks at a Night Out Against Crime 
Sheriff James Pohlmann has a laugh with residents of St. Matthew Circle in Violet during a Night Out Against Crime party 
Dep. Mitch Perkins speaks with Clay and Marie Cosse at a Night Out Against Crime party held at Arabi Food Store on Friscoville Avenue in Old Arabi. 
Sheriff James Pohlmann speaks to residents of Old Arabi during a Night Out Against Crime party held at Arabi Food Store 
Sgt. Chris Scheeler, Lt. Stephen Ingargiola and Sgt. Eric Eilers, attended various Night Out Against Crime parties 
Some of the items St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies handed out during various Night Out Against Crime parties held Oct. 16 throughout the parish included plastic deputy badges for children, keychains, and reminders about the importance of locking vehicles and not leaving items of value in plain sight to reduce the chances of being the victim of theft. 
Sheriff Pohlmann met two foreign exchange students who are attending CHS when he stopped by a Night Out Against Crime party held by Rosemary Gioia at her Chalmette home. With Sheriff Pohlmann are Ucha Marjanidze of France, left, and Luca Buettner from Germany, right.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to participate
in Night Out Against Crime
There’s no doubt St. Bernard Parish is one of the safest communities around the New Orleans metropolitan area. While St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies do a fine job of protecting our residents, citizens also can play a pivotal role in making their hometown a safe place to live and raise a family.
One such way residents can get involved is to host or attend a gathering in their neighborhood in observance of National Night Out Against Crime.
Although National Night Out is held in August across the country, several local leaders in Southeast Louisiana opted in 2011 to move the event to October to escape the summer heat.
On Tuesday, Oct. 16, the 35th annual event will be held locally in an effort to strengthen neighborhood bonds and increase crime prevention awareness, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
“We encourage residents to get together as a way to show they want to take a stand against crime,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “It’s a great way to foster relationships between neighbors and fight crime in their neighborhood.”
Sheriff Pohlmann and Sheriff’s Office deputies will visit various gatherings on the evening of the 16th to meet residents and answer any questions they may have about law enforcement issues and crime prevention.
Capt. Charles Borchers, head of community relations and longtime Crime-Prevention and Neighborhood Watch director for the Sheriff’s Office, said about two dozen events are held in St. Bernard each year, some at churches and public places, as well at private homes.
For more information about Night Out Against Crime activities, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.
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