Would you like to meet Sheriff James Pohlmann and speak to him?
Would you like to meet Sheriff James Pohlmann and speak to him?
Would you like to meet the men and women of the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office and speak to them?
Would you like to see how they do their jobs and see the equipment they use to do those jobs?
If you answered yes then the 21st session of its Citizens Police Academy is just for you.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy course is a free, 10-week program offered so residents can learn about police work.
Now is the time to sign up. Classes start Aug. 21 and will meet each Wednesday at 7 p.m. through graduation night in October.
For more information or to register, call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eric Eilers at (504) 278-7799
Call because space is limited.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrests Mississippi man
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrests Mississippi man
wanted by St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office
A Mississippi man who was wanted by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for vehicle theft and larceny was arrested July 24 in Chalmette after he fled from deputies, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Randy Forschlar II, 36, of the 100 block of Margest Street in Nichols, Mississippi, was booked with aggravated flight from an officer, battery on a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, reckless operation, driving with a suspended driver’s license, and no seat belt in use.
Forschlar also was booked on an outstanding warrant out of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for larceny, and on an outstanding warrant out of the Slidell Police Department for vehicle theft.
On Tuesday, July 23, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau were informed by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office that an arrest warrant had been issued for Forschlar, who is known to frequent St. Bernard.
On Wednesday, July 24, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, detectives spotted a vehicle fitting the description of Forschlar’s in a business parking lot on Paris Road in Chalmette. As detectives approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Forschlar, fled the scene in the vehicle, southbound on Paris Road.
Forschlar disregarded several traffic lights, lost control of his vehicle and came to a stop when he hit a curb near the intersection of Paris Road and Morales Street in Chalmette.
Forschlar refused to comply with detectives, but was taken into custody and booked on the above charges.
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St. Bernard Sheriff's Office Junior Deputy Academy graduation
St. Bernard Sheriff's Office Junior Deputy Academy graduation
More than two dozen children graduated from the 2019 session of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Junior Deputy Academy during a graduation ceremony held July 17 at Docville Farm in Violet.
The annual program, which ran this year from June 4 through July 11, is designed to teach youngsters ages 10 to 13 about the various aspects of law enforcement.
Patterned after the Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy for adults, the Junior Deputy program included visits from deputies with the Patrol, Narcotics and Marine Divisions, as well as the Crime Scene Investigation department. Participants learned about the department’s state-of-the-art equipment, firearms safety and first aid and CPR instruction. They also visited the Parish Prison.
St. Bernard Parish residents can register now for the 21st session of the Citizens Police Academy, a free, 10-week program offered to adults interested in learning about police work.
Classes begin Aug. 21 and will meet each Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office second-floor training center, 2118 Jackson Ave. in Chalmette, directly behind the Parish Courthouse.
For more information or to register, call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eric Eilers at (504) 278-7799.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Dep. Judy Bonicard
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Dep. Judy Bonicard
receives Kiwanis Club Life Saver Award
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Dep. Judy Bonicard received the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi Life Saver Award at a banquet hosted by Kiwanis on July 16 at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Dep. Bonicard, a 15-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office who works in the Corrections Division at St. Bernard Parish Prison, was honored for her efforts to save the life of a patron at a local business in April, 2019.
On April 14, Sheriff Pohlmann said, Dep. Bonicard was working an off-duty, paid detail at a business in Meraux when she observed an adult female fall from her chair and become unresponsive.
The female was not breathing, but had a faint pulse so Dep. Bonicard immediately started performing CPR and continued until Acadian Ambulance paramedics arrived on the scene. The female was transported to a local hospital after suffering what appeared to be a seizure.
Although the female did not survive, Dep. Bonicard’s actions helped her have a chance at recovery.
Col. Kevin Sensebe, warden of St. Bernard Parish Prison and Dep. Bonicard’s supervisor, said he is not surprised by his deputy’s actions.
“In the 15 years I have known Dep. Bonicard, she has exemplified what a caring, dedicated professional she is as a deputy of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office,” Col. Sensebe said. “She comes to work ready to handle anything with a helping hand and genuine concern for everyone.”
Dep. Bonicard feels humbled to receive such an award.
“Being honored with this award shows that I made a difference by helping someone at a critical time,” Dep. Bonicard said. “What I like most about being a deputy is serving and protecting the citizens of St. Bernard Parish.”
Kiwanis Life Saver Committee Chairman Sam Catalanotto said the Kiwanis Club started presenting these awards more than a decade ago as a way to recognize first-responders in the parish for the work they do to protect the public. The award is presented quarterly to parish first responders chosen by the Sheriff's Office and Fire Department, he said.
"They are the first people through the door, and usually the last ones out, in an emergency, putting their lives on the line everyday,” Catalanotto said.
Anyone interested in joining the St. Bernard/Arabi Kiwanis Club community service organization is welcome to attend one of its luncheons each Tuesday at noon in the Rocky and Carlo’s Sicilian Room, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. For more information, call Robby Showalter at (504) 616-7312.
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ST. BERNARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO DISTRIBUTE SANDBAGS
ST. BERNARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO DISTRIBUTE SANDBAGS
Due to conditions expected from an approaching tropical system, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will distribute free sandbags to parish residents Thursday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the sandbag barn in the old Kaiser facility at the rear of the Port of St. Bernard in Chalmette.
“We have sandbags that have been pre-made and are ready to be given to residents of St. Bernard,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said. Parish prisoners make the sandbags throughout the year in preparation for the next hurricane season.
St. Bernard residents must show proof of residency in order to receive sandbags, and there will be a limit of 10 per vehicle, Sheriff Pohlmann said.
Motorists wishing to pick up the sandbags at the Port can enter the road to the port off West St. Bernard Highway at Keane Drive, next to the old Kaiser smokestack, and follow the road to the rear of the port, near the Mississippi River levee. Deputies will be there to assist, the Sheriff said.
The Sheriff’s Office is monitoring weather conditions associated with the tropical system and are in constant contact with local parish government leaders, officials from surrounding parishes and the National Weather Service.
“We’re reviewing our plans and are ready for this weather event,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “We also are prepared to bring in extra manpower to help with traffic control and road closures if need be.”
Sheriff Pohlmann reminds residents to use caution when driving down residential streets with standing water once conditions worsen. Residents who drive down flooded streets, endangering the property of others, can be fined up to $500.
Residents who would like to report any problems or suspicious activity in their neighborhood can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.
“We are urging all residents and businesses to get prepared and stay informed,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies speak at Kiwanis Club meeting
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies speak at Kiwanis Club meeting
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Capt. Stephen Ingargiola and Sgt. Chris Scheeler of the Special Operations Division spoke at the May 21 meeting of the St. Bernard Kiwanis Club. Capt. Ingargiola and Sgt. Scheeler are both Hazardous Device Technicians certified through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They brought along the Sheriff’s Office bomb robot, and they spoke about some of the special projects they’ve worked on and about the history of the Bomb Squad.
Photos courtesy of Michael B. Chutz
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office will conduct extra patrols for vacationing resident
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office will conduct extra patrols for vacationing residents
St. Bernard Parish residents leaving for an extended period of time or for summer vacation can call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to request that deputies make extra patrols past their home while they are away.
“When thinking about the last-minute things you have to do before leaving, remember to call us for extra patrols,” St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Residents can call (504) 271-2501 to get on the list for the extra patrols.
Sheriff Pohlmann said the information is kept confidential and is revealed only to the officers assigned to patrol the section where the resident lives.
Residents also are advised to leave a contact number with the Sheriff’s Office so a patrol deputy can call them if there is something happens at their home, Sheriff Pohlmann said, including non crime-related matters such as damage from a wind or rain storm.
Capt. Charles Borchers, head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office, including the Neighborhood Watch program, said the extra pass list has been used effectively for years and helps residents be assured their homes will have some extra protection while they are away.
Borchers said residents should consider the following crime prevention tips before leaving their home for trips:
Lock up. While this might seem obvious, some people forget to lock their house completely while rushing to get away. Make sure all doors and windows are locked.
Be careful who you tell that you plan to be away from your home. However, ask someone you trust to watch for anything unusual. Also, never leave a message on a phone voice mail system saying you are out of town because any caller would learn your house may be vulnerable.
The same is true with social media. It is foolish to announce to everyone you will be going on a trip. Wait until you return to post photos instead.
Do whatever possible to create the appearance that someone is home. Keep a vehicle in the driveway or out front of your residence. Maintain your lawn before you leave or have someone you trust mow your lawn while you are gone.
Put outdoor lighting on either timers, light-sensitive photocell mechanisms, or motion detectors. Use timers to activate inside lighting, radios, or TVs. Use LED light bulbs because they burn cooler than the standard light bulbs.
Don’t let deliveries accumulate. If possible, ask someone you know to pick up mail, newspapers, packages and any circulars placed on your front door. Stop delivery of any newspaper if you can so they don’t pile up.
Don’t leave keys under your doormat, flower pots or window ledges – intruders check these first.
Keep shrubbery trimmed. Thick shrubbery and trees cover your windows, allowing burglars to work undetected.
If you have a security system, ensure it is armed and provide instructions to the central monitoring station – if you have one – to call your cell phone, the Sheriff’s Office and/or a particular friend, relative or neighbor if there is a problem.
If your area has a Neighborhood Watch program inform its officials about your vacation plans.
St. Bernard residents interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch group in their area can call Borchers at (504) 278-7628.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies visit with OLPS students on Career Day
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies visit with OLPS students on Career Day
Several St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies visited with Our Lady of Prompt Succor School students on May 22 for Career Day. The deputies spoke to students about some of their job duties, and they brought along some specialized equipment.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to participate in
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to participate in
‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office will participate in the “Click It or Ticket” National Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization campaign to highlight the dangers of motorists not wearing seat belts, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
From May 20 through June 2, deputies will be taking to parish streets and highways to participate in the campaign, which is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission.
Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save someone’s life in a crash, yet many drivers, as well as passengers, don’t buckle up. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws and law enforcement officers saving lives.
Sheriff Pohlmann, who is a member of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, representing the 1st Congressional District, feels campaigns such as this one are an important tool for the Sheriff’s Office.
“These types of programs promote safety on our state roads and highway systems,” the Sheriff said. “Too many people are needlessly killed or injured each year in traffic accidents.”
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office prepares for 2019 hurricane season
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office prepares for 2019 hurricane season
With the beginning of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season nearing, Southeast Louisiana residents should begin making plans so they can be prepared if a storm threatens our area.
Preparing for hurricane season, which runs June 1 through Nov. 30, should be something residents in our area are accustomed to doing, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
“We should always be mindful of being prepared for hurricane season,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Remember, we are so close to the Gulf of Mexico, you can’t ignore the possibility of a hurricane.”
With that in mind, Sheriff Pohlmann said, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is ready to respond in case there is a storm threatening our area and possibly forcing the evacuation of the parish.
The department has a plan in place, which Sheriff Pohlmann said includes several boats at the ready, and a high-water truck that would be ideal for rescue or to haul personnel or equipment to respond to a storm.
Acquired through a federal grant in 2013, the Sheriff’s Office’s custom-built F-650 truck, which has a 37-inch lift and air brakes, is an important asset for hurricane season.
“It’s meant for high-water situations,’’ such as street flooding from heavy rains, the Sheriff said.
There also are thousands of sandbags already made by prisoners for use by residents, businesses and parish government. Plans are also in place in the event prisoners would need to be evacuated, Sheriff Pohlmann said.
In addition to equipment, Sheriff Pohlmann said various departments within the Sheriff’s Office have plans in place and are ready to execute them if need be.
For instance, members of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team train on various types of boats from the sheriff’s Marine Division in order to be prepared to immediately patrol neighborhoods in case of any type of rain event flooding.
“If parish government orders an evacuation of residents in any approaching storm we will facilitate that and then lock down the parish to prevent non-residents from entering,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.
To be successful in preparing for a storm, Sheriff Pohlmann said residents need to do their part as well.
“That’s true for every family in this parish,’’ the Sheriff said. “Don’t wait until you hear a bad storm is approaching before you think about being prepared, such as whether or not you will leave and where you would go if necessary.’’
By preparing now, Sheriff Pohlmann said, you can avoid the rush at home supply stores and supermarkets, which always get crowded and run out of things as hurricanes or tropical storms approach.
“Don’t wait until the last minute,” the Sheriff said. “Have things like flashlights and batteries, bottled water, and medications on hand where you can easily find them if leaving becomes necessary.”
If you can afford it, Sheriff Pohlmann recommends stocking up on these items in the event you chose to stay during a storm and lose electricity for more than a day.
Anticipating the needs of older relatives and deciding what to do with pets if you had to leave, also are things to consider. The Louisiana ASPCA says pet-owners should never leave them behind when they evacuate because the animals would be at the mercy of the storm.
In the event of an ordered evacuation, Sheriff Pohlmann said, officers will make extra patrols through neighborhoods, as well as by boat along waterways if necessary, to protect property in the parish.
“We don’t want residents making a bad decision to stay simply out of concern over a possible burglar,’’ the Sheriff said.
Residents are encouraged to heed the advice of local officials when it comes to deciding to evacuate or ride out a storm.
“It reduces the need for search and rescue operations if there was actual flooding in a storm,” the Sheriff said, “and it reduces the possibility of the loss of life.”
Another way citizens can prepare for hurricane season is to stay informed.
Residents can register for the parish’s FirstCall Emergency Notification Service which provides timely information about hurricanes and other high profile events occurring in the area. These alerts will go to landlines, cell phones, SMS text messaging devices, email and pagers. For more information, or to register, visit the St. Bernard Parish Government website, sbpg.net.
St. Bernard Parish residents with special needs or those who have no resources to evacuate themselves are eligible for assistance in evacuating should a mandatory evacuation be called in the parish, either due to a hurricane or another type of emergency which might arise.
Residents can register with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness by calling (504) 278-4268. Information also is available at sbpg.net. Click on Departments, then Homeland Security, then Special Needs Registration.
In the event of an approaching storm, here is a checklist of items you will want to have on hand in a basic emergency supply kit:
Water: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
Three-day supply of non-perishable food
Can opener
Eating utensils
First Aid kit
Cash
Several complete changes of clothing and footwear per person
Cell phones and chargers
Bedding or sleeping bags
Fire extinguisher (small canister ABC type)
Bleach (no lemon or other additives)
Mosquito repellent
Tarp, rope, and duct tape
Toiletries including toilet paper
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Flashlights and extra batteries
Sunglasses
For families with infants, remember bottles, formula, diapers, wipes, powdered milk and medications.
For adults and others with special needs, don’t forget medicine, such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies and extra eye glasses.
For pets, bring their ID tag, a photo of pet for identification purposes, a week supply of food, water, medications, and your veterinarian’s phone number. Don’t leave your pet behind. Transport pets in secure pet carriers and keep pets on leashes. Most emergency shelters do not admit pets. Check with hotels in safe locations and ask if you can bring your pet.
Entertainment, especially for children, is important as well. Pack books for adult readers and for children, board games and/or other games that do not require batteries or electricity.
Also, remember to bring your important records in a waterproof, portable container. Include insurance papers or account numbers, an inventory of household goods, checks and credit cards, family records such as birth, marriage and death certificates, and important telephone numbers.
Taking photos of your home and its contents before you leave is also a good idea for insurance purposes.
Sheriff Pohlmann hopes this season will be a quiet one for St. Bernard Parish, but it’s best to keep a watchful eye and think smart.
“Let’s hope for the best, and prepare for the worst,” the Sheriff said.
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