Sheriff Pohlmann sworn in for third term.
Sheriff Pohlmann sworn in for third term
St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann was sworn in Wednesday, July 1 for his third four-year term as Sheriff of St. Bernard during a small ceremony held at the St. Bernard Civic Center in Chalmette.
Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Judge Robert Klees presented the oath of office to the Sheriff, who was joined by his wife, Monique, and their two daughters.
Judge Klees also swore in Sheriff Pohlmann’s Chief Deputy Richard Baumy, as well as the senior command staff and the men and women of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph DiFatta was the emcee and Chaplain Aaron Johnson offered the opening and closing prayers. Several local dignitaries were in attendance, including District Attorney Perry Nicosia, Clerk of Court Randy Nunez, Tax Assessor Jaylynn Bergeron Turner, Judge Kim Jones and Judge Jeanne Juneau.
During the ceremony, the Sheriff thanked the men and women of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office for the diligent work they do to keep their community safe, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the trying times our nation is facing.
“I’m proud to have you guys as members of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and I’m proud to be your leader,” the Sheriff said. “We need you. Our community needs you. I need you. And we all need to continue to work together to Keep St. Bernard Safe.”
A native of St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Pohlmann began his career with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office in 1983 when he was just 18 years old.
Sheriff Pohlmann has served in virtually all areas of the department, including Communications, Corrections, Patrol, Traffic, Criminal Investigations and SWAT. He has also held various command posts throughout his career, including SWAT Commanding Officer and Chief of Field Operations.
After serving as chief deputy for former St. Bernard Sheriff Jack A. Stephens for nearly four years, overseeing all law enforcement operations, he was first elected sheriff in November 2011. Sheriff Pohlmann was re-elected without opposition in 2015 and in 2019.
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Deputies graduate from P.O.S.T. Academy.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office
deputies graduate from P.O.S.T. Academy
Five St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies graduated July 2 from the Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., basic police academy at the St. Charles Parish Regional P.O.S.T. Academy.
Graduates are: Dep. Randall Parker, Dep. Nicholas Lambert, Dep. Dawn Penney, Dep. Jared Bazile and Dep. Anthony Arnona.
Dep. Bazile was named valedictorian of the class for having the highest grade-point average.
The academy includes more than 500 hours of training in basic police work over 13 weeks, including firearms use, criminal investigation, patrol procedures, writing reports, driving training, physical fitness and other areas.
Capt. Stephen Ingargiola and Capt. Adrian Chalona attended the ceremony.
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SBSO participates in Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign.
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office participates in
‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility law enforcement campaign to prevent drunk driving during the Fourth of July holiday.
Beginning today, July 2 through Sunday, July 5, deputies will be taking to parish streets and highways to participate in the campaign, which is funded by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office received a grant from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to conduct these types of additional traffic safety enforcement activities.
Sheriff James Pohlmann, who is a member of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, representing the 1st Congressional District, feels grants 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,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Too many people are needlessly killed or injured each year in traffic accidents. We will not tolerate motorists driving on our roadways while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
The grant also allows the Sheriff’s Office to have deputies perform seat belt checks and DWI sobriety checkpoints at various times throughout the year.
The LHSC is responsible for developing and administering the state’s traffic safety program by cooperating with the federal government and other entities for the purpose of highway safety.
In addition to administering the state’s highway safety grants program, the LHSC also prepares highway safety plans; studies, evaluates and prepares statistics regarding motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths; and obtains federal funds for use within the state for highway safety purposes. Programs and projects are administered in accordance with uniform guidelines.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies graduate from P.O.S.T. police academy
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies graduate from P.O.S.T. police academy
Four St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies graduated June 25 from the Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., police academy held at the Slidell Regional Police Academy.
Congratulations to graduates Dep. Chris Acosta, Dep. Blake Miller, Dep. Patrick Clark and Dep. Rob Stedman.
Dep. Acosta received an academic award, and Dep. Clark received a physical fitness award.
The academy included more than 500 hours of training in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms use, criminal investigation, patrol procedures, writing reports, driving training and physical fitness.
Lt. Eric Eilers attended the graduation ceremony.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office receives N95 masks from Lowe’s
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office receives N95 masks from Lowe’s
The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office recently received a donation of 1,500 N95 masks from Lowe’s Home Improvement in Slidell. Pictured are, from left: Cpl. Jamie Lovas, Tony DeLuca, Andrew Leach and Lt. Eric Eilers.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in fatal stabbing of Meraux woman
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in fatal stabbing of Meraux woman
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office has booked an Arizona man with the fatal stabbing of a Meraux woman that is believed to have occurred Sunday, June 21 in Meraux, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Dexter Mutongerwa, 31, of Tolleson, Arizona, was booked with second degree murder June 22 for fatally stabbing an 18-year-old female from Meraux.
Shortly after midnight on Monday, June 22, the Kenner Police Department responded to a report about a single car accident near the 500 block of Interstate 10 westbound.
When Kenner officers located the vehicle in question parked on the side of the interstate, they came into contact with a male driver, later identified as Mutongerwa, who was bleeding from a laceration to the hand. Officers then observed a female lying in the backseat of the vehicle, suffering from several stab wounds.
The 18-year-old female victim was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Mutongerwa also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for the laceration on his hand and released to deputies for questioning. While in custody, Mutongerwa confessed to stabbing the woman multiple times earlier in the night at a location in Meraux.
Sheriff Pohlmann said this was an isolated incident and Mutongerwa and the victim knew each other.
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kenner Police Department, is working together in this ongoing investigation. No further details are available at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477.
Citizens who want to share information with detectives can do so anonymously by calling this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sheriff Pohlmann said all calls will be acted upon. If a detective isn’t available to answer, the Sheriff said callers can leave a detailed message, and either choose to provide their contact information, or remain anonymous.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office investigating fatal stabbing of Meraux woman
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office investigating fatal stabbing of Meraux woman
The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, along with the Kenner Police Department, is investigating the fatal stabbing of a Meraux woman that is believed to have occurred Sunday, June 21 in Meraux, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Shortly after midnight on Monday, June 22, the Kenner Police Department responded to a report about a single car accident in the 500 block of Interstate 10 westbound.
When Kenner officers located the vehicle in question parked on the side of the interstate, they came into contact with a male driver who was bleeding from a laceration to the hand. Officers then observed a female lying in the backseat of the vehicle, suffering from several stab wounds.
The 18-year-old female victim was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The male driver also was transported to the hospital where he was treated for the laceration on his hand and released to deputies for questioning. While in custody, the male driver confessed to stabbing the female multiple times earlier in the night at a location in Meraux.
The male driver is currently in custody in Kenner, but is in the process of being transferred to St. Bernard Parish to be booked for second degree murder.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details are available at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477.
Citizens who want to share information with detectives can do so anonymously by calling this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sheriff Pohlmann said all calls will be acted upon. If a detective isn’t available to answer, the Sheriff said callers can leave a detailed message, and either choose to provide their contact information, or remain anonymous.
Citizens with information about this case can also call Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters who call Crimestoppers can remain anonymous, do not have to testify and could be eligible for a cash reward.
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St. Bernard Parish fireworks ordinance
St. Bernard Parish fireworks ordinance
When can they be used legally for Fourth of July?
According to St. Bernard Parish ordinance, here are the times when fireworks can legally be used in the parish surrounding the 4th of July celebration:
From June 25 through July 2, fireworks can legally be used from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.
On July 3 and 4, fireworks can be used from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.
On July 5, they can be used from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., when all use of fireworks must end for the 4th of July period.
Any use outside these hours would be considered illegal disturbing of the peace.
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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 something happens at their home, the Sheriff said, including non crime-related matters such as damage from a wind or rain storm.
Lt. Eric Eilers, head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office, 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.
Lt. Eilers 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.
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St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office prepares for 2020 hurricane season
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office prepares for 2020 hurricane season
With the beginning of the 2020 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
Hand sanitizer
Face masks
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 your pet(s) for identification purposes, a 7-day 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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