Mar 31, 2010 - A 58-year-old man wanted in St. Bernard Parish in a $40,000 contractor fraud case after Hurricane Katrina has been extradited from West Texas to the parish for prosecution on a felony theft count, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

John Bustoz, who had been doing contracting business out of Gretna after the hurricane, is accused of stealing about $40,000 from a man who paid him in 2007 to renovate an Arabi residence, running off after doing little work, Pohlmann said.

A judge signed a warrant for Bustoz’s arrest on Jan. 29, 2008, and Bustoz was recently arrested in the Lubbock, TX, area on an unrelated charge and St. Bernard Parish authorities were alerted to see if they wanted him extradited on the arrest warrant, Pohlmann said.

St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives Lt. Richard Mendel and Sgt. Paul Miller drove to West Texas and returned with Bustoz early Wednesday, March 31, booking him into Parish Prison on the charge of theft over $500. He is being held in jail in lieu of a $40,000 bond set in the case.
Pohlmann said St. Bernard Parish still has many outstanding contractor fraud cases remaining from the post-Katrina days but the Sheriff’s Office has shown it is willing to go to other states to bring back wanted people for prosecution.

Troy Colson, Jr.

Mar 30, 2010 - A Chalmette man has been booked with distribution of heroin and other charges for injecting his girlfriend with the drug after an argument and the young woman nearly died of an overdose, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Troy Colson Jr., 20, who lives with relatives at 3817 Delille Drive in Chalmette, was arrested Thursday, March 25, after the teen-age girl overdosed in the afternoon, fell to the floor, and had to be administered a medication by emergency medical technicians to reverse the effects of the heroin, the sheriff said.

Colson, being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of a $20,000 bond and who also has a probation violation hold, was arrested after an investigation by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark.

He is booked with distribution of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia including a spoon found in the bathroom that was burned on one side and contained residue on the other side, and with obstruction of justice. Colson was found in a rear yard of the residence.

The woman told investigators she and Colson had been arguing and he followed her into a bathroom and asked if she wanted to “get loaded,’’ according to a report of the incident. She said she told him no but he began cooking a substance he removed from a sock, drew it into a syringe and grabbed her left arm. She pulled away twice, the woman said, but Colson grabbed her arm again and injected the heroin.

She said she fell unconscious and woke up to find the medical technicians helping her. The woman wasn’t arrested.

In an unrelated drug arrest, two Violet men, Keith Banks, 22, 2224 Caluda Lane, and Tremayne Santiago, 38, 2409 Guerra Drive, were both booked March 25 with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine worth about $150. Santiago is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison, with no bond set because of a parole violation hold. Banks was released on bond but the amount wasn’t available.

The men were stopped in a vehicle in the 2400 block of Guerra Drive and after SID agents received permission from the driver, Banks, to search it they found a plastic bag containing several individually wrapped bags of crack cocaine, the sheriff said.

Mar 28, 2010 - Voters in St. Bernard Parish overwhelmingly approved two proposed tax renewals dedicated to funding the Sheriff’s Office in the March 27 election, with both receiving about 85 percent support.

Sheriff Jack A. Stephens and Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, second in charge behind the sheriff, said they appreciated the show of support for the job the men and women of the department do in St. Bernard Parish.

“The people have always backed our law enforcement officers in this parish,’’ Sheriff Stephens said.

Pohlmann said, “The bottom line is people feel safe in St. Bernard Parish.’’

The sheriff and Pohlmann said they were grateful for the public support before the election by many groups in the parish.

Sheriff Stephens, in urging renewal of the taxes, had stressed they weren’t new and said, “Each is absolutely essential that voters re-new for continued high-quality law enforcement that we have enjoyed in our parish. St. Bernard is the safest parish in the New Orleans area and without this revenue the continued safety of our residents would be at risk,’’ the sheriff said. “Without renewal there is no question we would have to substantially reduce operations.’’

One proposition renewed a half-cent sales tax dedicated to Sheriff’s Office general expenses, including salaries, training, law enforcement programs and operating facilities. The tax brought in $2.8 million last year, down from around $5 million annually before Hurricane Katrina. The Sheriff's Office sought a renewal of the tax first passed in 1992. It is for 10 years, effective in 2013.

Returns were:
36 of 36 precincts
Yes -  1,648 votes, or 85.3 percent
No  -     283 votes, or 14.7 percent

Voters also renewed a 5-mill property tax dedicated to the Sheriff's Office for salaries and benefits of deputies beneath the rank of lieutenant. The tax, which brought in $1.4 million last year, was first approved by voters in 2001 as a way for the Sheriff's Office to boost salaries to prevent losing deputies to other parishes where pay was much higher. With the additional revenues, the Sheriff's Office raised the starting salary for deputies and other salaries below lieutenant.
The tax will be for 10 years beginning in 2011.

Returns were:
36 of 36 precincts
Yes - 1,620 votes, or 84.3 percent
No  -    301 votes, or 15.7 percent

Results from early voting, prior to election day, showed: 690 votes for Yes on both proposals, or about 94 percent, and 45 for No on both, or about six percent.

A total of about seven percent of the parish’s eligible voters cast ballots in the tax renewal election.

Mar 25, 2010 - A mobile crime scene vehicle, obtained through a $76,000 grant to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office from the U.S. Justice Department, will soon be available for the first time since Hurricane Katrina and will contain the latest technology and equipment for the identification and collection of evidence, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“This is an important advancement for us,’’ Pohlmann said. “It will make us current in the latest methods of identification and collection of evidence at crime scenes, such as fingerprints and traces of blood.’’

The Sheriff’s Office’s grant-writing team applied for the money and it was approved in the summer of 2009 by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. It is part of the federal stimulus package from the President and Congress.

A Ford van chosen for the crime scene vehicle has been delivered and will be ready for use after installation of its equipment.

A mobile crime scene isn’t the same as a crime lab where the collected evidence is analyzed.

Pohlmann said, “This is a vehicle equipped with the technology and basic equipment to process a crime scene, such as being able to find and collect items including minute evidence like partial fingerprints or small amounts of body fluids, all of which can help identify suspects in crimes.’’ He said camera equipment, an alternate light source, sexual assault kits, a crime scene table, and numerous other things would be kept in the vehicle, ready to be taken to a crime scene.

The equipment can be used at various types of crime scenes including crimes against persons and property crimes.

The Sheriff’s Office had a mobile crime scene before Hurricane Katrina but it was destroyed in the storm, Pohlmann said. Since then, department investigators have carried equipment in various vehicles, often in trunks.

Chief of Detectives Col. John Doran said a replacement mobile crime “puts us back where we were’’ before the storm but with the advantage of bringing with it the newest technology. “We are keeping pace with advancements,’’ he said. “And it would make things easier for us by putting it in a mobile unit ready to roll,’’ Doran said.

Lt. Raymond Theriot and Sgt. Jeff Vega are the main crime scene technicians for the sheriff’s Detective Bureau, backed up by Lt. Richard Mendel.

Mar 26, 2010 - A Poydras area man has been booked with indecent behavior with the 12-year-old daughter of his girlfriend, who he touched inappropriately, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The man, whose name isn’t being released to protect the victim’s identity, was booked Monday, March 22, on an arrest warrant signed by a judge after an investigation by the sheriff’s Juvenile Division, headed by Maj. Darlene Poche, Pohlmann said.

The incident leading to the felony arrest happened in 2009 and was recently reported to authorities.

The man has been released from jail on a $15,000 bond.

In an unrelated case, Pohlmann said, a property owner checking on a house on Flamingto Drive in the Poydras area on Thursday morning, March 25, saw a man exit the rear of the property and throw a screwdriver to the ground, then he detained the person and called the Sheriff’s Office.

The owner’s wife found pry marks on three doors of the house they went to see about.

When deputies arrived they booked the intruder, Patrick Vaughn, 29, 2209 E. Christie Drive, Poydras, with attempted burglary, criminal damage to property over $500 and with probation violation.

Vaughn is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $15,000 bond.

When the owner and his wife arrived, there was a vehicle in the driveway of an abandoned lot next to their property, Pohlmann said.

As the owner exited his vehicle, he saw a stranger walk from the rear of his property and throw a screwdriver to the ground as he walked, the owner told responding deputies. The owner’s wife found the pry marks on the doors but it appeared entrance wasn’t made.

Asked what he was doing there, the man identified as Vaughn told the owner he came to see his friend’s house. The owner detained Vaughn, called authorities and retrieved the screwdriver to give to a deputy.

The Dodge pickup truck next to the owner’s property was registered to Vaughn, who deputies learned is currently on active probation. There wasn’t any information available on Vaughn’s past conviction.

A report by a deputy said the screwdriver recovered was consistent with the pry marks that were made, Pohlmann said.

Mar 21, 2010 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Det. Lt. Raymond Theriot said it was one of the great experiences of his life to recently take part be in the 11-week course of study at the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., among 260 police officers.

“It’s amazing to see police from all over the world, all of us with similar concerns,’’ said Theriot, who has a degree in criminal justice from Loyola University and has been with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office since 1984.

“Everyone wants to protect their communities and be able to raise their families in a safe environment.’’

Theriot, St. Bernard Deputy of the Year in 1997, said he loved the environment of the FBI Academy, which he said was conducive to officers bettering themselves personally and professionally. “It’s very educational and includes leadership classes, crime scene investigation and stresses physical fitness. I learned a lot in the area of death investigations and crime scene work in general.’’
Theriot was the 15th member of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office to be appointed to the FBI National Academy under Sheriff Jack Stephens’ 25-year tenure, an unusual accomplishment for a 300-member department. “It shows we’re running on all cylinders,’’ Theriot said.

The FBI program is for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders, available only through invitation and a nomination process. State and local police, sheriffs' offices, military police and federal law enforcement agents attend the academy, whose classes are drawn from every state and some 150 nations. The first academy class was held in July 1935.

“It’s a great honor and privilege to be nominated’’ and should help him further in St. Bernard after being exposed to officers from so many regions and taking part in discussions about similar concerns and unique differences, he said.

“From being members of a class together it gives you contacts by introducing you to a network of people you can call upon for help in the future people who are at other departments and in other cities,’’ Theriot said. “You don’t know when something you’re working on with a crime suspect will lead you to another state. It gives you people you now know you can call and they can point you in the right direction about something or other.’’

He said he also met people he didn’t know who happen to work in other departments in the New Orleans area, including Jefferson Parish, Kenner, St. Charles Parish and Lake Charles.

Theriot has worked with the sheriff’s former emergency medical service and later as a patrol deputy and now as a sheriff’s detective, which he has been for 15 years. Since 2001 he also has served as firearms instructor at the Sheriff’s Office.

He also has been to Pakistan twice under a U.S. State Department program where he instructed local police officers.

A Pakistani police officer attending the academy brought up an unusual problem his department there has dealt with, Theriot said.

He said the officer asked about procedures to follow when a mine field planted by terrorists is uncovered.

“They deal with suicide bombers there. Fortunately we don’t have that but we do have several (industrial) plants here that could be targets for terrorists,’’ Theriot said.

Mar 19, 2010 - Seven arrests have been made in four heroin cases as well as others for cocaine and theft, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Authorities are also asking for the public’s help in a March 18 early morning burglary of Willie Smith Elementary School in Violet in which five laptop computers were stolen. A black and white Mongoose bicycle was recovered outside when a male ran away and jumped a fencer as sheriff’s deputies arrived, after responding to an alarm after midnight. Shoe prints were found inside the school on East St. Bernard Highway,  and several school windows were found open.

Anyone with information about suspects should call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

Nearly three grams of heroin worth about $400, was recovered in four recent cases in which six men and one woman were arrested, Sheriff Stephens said. Agents from the Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark, made the arrests.

Tommy Harrell, 21, 1525 Owens Blvd., New Orleans, was booked on a street in Arabi on March 18 with possession of nearly a gram of heroin with intent to distribute. He has been released from jail on a $15,000 bond.

Also on March 18, two New Orleans men, Michael Lucien, 28, 1124 Bartholomew St., and Corey Guidry, 22, 1406 Alvar St., were both booked on a street in Arabi with attempted distribution of heroin. Lucien has been released on $10,000 bond and Guidry is being held in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Korey Jackson, 24, 2213 Guillot Drive, St. Bernard community, was booked on a street in Arabi on March 10 with possession of .6 grams of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia in the form of six syringes and a metal spoon containing residue, as well as on traffic charges. He has been released on $12,000 bond.

Two men and a woman, Ryan Lauga, 19, 1419 Washington Park, in Slidell; Mario Picolo, 22, 2512 Volpe Drive, Chalmette; and Kayla Caronna, 21, 313 Josephine Drive, Apt. B, Chalmette, were all booked with possession of heroin, in which a total of 1.1 grams were found in a vehicle in Arabi on Feb. 25 after a traffic stop.

Four foil packets of heroin were found in the vehicle and all three had needle track marks on their arms, authorities said. Two hypodermic needles and a metal spoon containing residue were found in Caronna’s purse, for which she was booked with possession of drug paraphernalia, and two aluminum foil packets of heroin were found on her in a search at St. Bernard Parish Prison. There wasn’t any bond information available on the three.

Two separate cocaine arrests were made recently.

Shawn Williams, 30, 1667 Treasure St., New Orleans, was booked March 15 with possession with intent to distribute seven pieces of crack cocaine, weighing two grams, and worth $200, after a traffic stop in Violet. Also, Adrian McGee, 39, 2525 Riverland Drive, Chalmette, was booked March 14 with possession of five bags of cocaine, weighing 1.6 grams total and worth $160, found in his vehicle at his residence. No bond information was available.

In the theft arrest, Kevin Toups, 31, 110 First St., Chalmette, was booked by sheriff’s deputies on March 16 with theft for acting as a lookout while another man stole a catalytic converter from a truck in Chalmette. A witness identified Toups. The piece of equipment hadn’t been recovered nor the other suspect identified at the time of the arrest of Toups, who was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond. The amount wasn’t available.

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens, right, and Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann display weapons recovered in the arrest of two burglars in June 2008.

The propositions, which aren’t new taxes, provide most of the funding for sheriff’s deputies.

“This is not a new tax,’’ Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said."Both of these on the ballot have existed for years and directly fund the Sheriff’s Office, providing the money that pays for our department. Each is absolutely essential that voters re-new for continued high-quality law enforcement that we have enjoyed in St. Bernard Parish,'' Sheriff Stephens said.

“St. Bernard is the safest parish in the New Orleans area and without this revenue the continued safety of our residents would be at risk,’’ the sheriff said.
 
"It would be a step in the wrong direction to reduce the funding we count on to run the department. Without renewal there is no question we would have to substantially reduce operations.’’

Stephens noted that since Hurricane Katrina, - which destroyed the Sheriff’s Office as it did businesses and homes in St. Bernard Parish -  he has re-introduced virtually all the services available before the storm.

“We have re-built the parish sub-stations, re-introduced the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program for children in schools, re-started the Citizens Police Academy for residents to better understand law enforcement’’ Sheriff Stephens said, “as well as re-started the Neighborhood Watch program and have rebuilt the Parish Prison and juvenile detention center, substantially reducing crime by minors.’’

“We also answer 3,000 calls a month for assistance from the public and are making 300 arrests a month, focusing on narcotics activity, personal and property crimes and traffic enforcement,’’ the sheriff said.

Early voting for the election began March 13 and ends March 20 at the parish Registrar of Voters office, (504) 278-4230, which is located in the government building at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. A photo I.D. is required. On the March 27 election day, polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and a photo I.D. is needed.

Mar 13, 2010 - Troy Green, 14, of the Violet area, said it’s a problem for young people  to find things to do in St. Bernard Parish.

“You don’t want to be bored,’’ he said. But getting in trouble “would be worse.’’

That’s why, the teen-ager said, he is enjoying a new enrichment program and basketball league organized by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, which has been meeting on Friday nights in the gym at Willie Smith Elementary School in Violet.

“I like it,’’ Green said. “It takes a lot of time off my hands. It’s a nice side activity.’’

Alfreneisha Duchane, 18, and James Mahoney, 16, also of Violet, also said they like the activities. The idea, Duchane said, is “to keep kids off the streets.’’ “It’s pretty amazing,’’ Mahoney said. Richeka Williams, 17, said she looks forward to playing the boys in basketball. “I’m better than a lot of them,’’ she said.

Some 40-50 boys and girls, ages 14-19, are taking part in the Friday night get-togethers, which are a part of the Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach program.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann and Maj. Mark Poche attended one of the night sessions, in which Pohlmann told participants: “We’re here to help you’’ by providing a wholesome outlet in sports, as well as relating some life lessons including health and safety tips, plus practical advice like how to fill out job applications and dress for job interviews.

Pohlmann also said the enrichment program and basketball league is envisioned as “a good alternative to having these kids on the streets.’’
 
Lt. Lisa Jackson, who supervises the Community Outreach program, is working with Yancey Aisola, a civilian employee of the Sheriff’s Office,  and Sgt. Tony Bruscato, as well as several adult volunteers from the community.

Jackson said, “We will have speakers talk to (the teen-agers) on topics including the HIV virus and how to protect themselves,’’ and “how to make the right decisions’’ in life.

The enrichment program and the basketball league are patterned after similar programs that have shown success, Jackson said.

Aisola said, “The idea is to keep youth safe and influence them in a positive way and promote good relations with law enforcement.’’

The Youth Rescue Initiative foundation donated money for equipment to start the program and E & R Trucking also donated services, officials said.

Reanna Machado, 26	Bridget McKnight, 27

Mar 9, 2010 - A Chalmette woman who worked at a restaurant was literally caught purple-handed from invisible dye placed on marked money and she and another employee were booked with felony theft by systematically stealing a substantial amount of money over a period of months, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Reanna Machado, 26, and Bridget McKnight, 27, both of 3338 Pakenham Drive, Chalmette, were both booked March 6 with felony theft by sheriff’s detectives commanded by Col. John Doran, Pohlmann said. Both have been released on bonds of $10,000 each and the case will be referred to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.

The owner of the restaurant, which wasn’t identified, determined  a large sum of money was missing over a period of nearly a year, Pohlmann said, and asked the Sheriff’s Office to investigate.

Officers decided to use marked money with invisible purple dye as bait to catch a suspect, Pohlmann said.

He said the owner was told to call the Sheriff’s Office back if an employee was seen with the ink on their hands, which would turn purple when handled.

The owner reported on March 6 that some bait money was missing and that an employee, Machado, had purple dye on her hands, Pohlmann said. He said the Sheriff’s Office recovered a video of money being stolen and after questioning Machado both she and McKnight were booked with felony theft.
 

Mar 8, 2010 - A St. Bernard Parish couple was arrested at a parade Sunday, March 7, after giving the man’s 1-year-old son a chocolate-flavored daiquiri beverage in his baby bottle, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

He said the father, Nicholas Lee, 19, 2221 W. Christie, Poydras, and his girlfriend, Jaelin Manuel, 19, 404 Alpaca, Arabi, - who isn’t the child’s biological mother - were booked with cruelty to a juvenile in a 4:30 p.m. incident in Chalmette as the couple watched the Irish, Italian and Islenos Community Parade.

A witness on the parade route told a sheriff’s deputy the couple poured a frozen alcoholic beverage into Lee's son's bottle and handed it to the boy to drink, Pohlmann said. The witness also reported seeing the child drink some.

A detective from the Juvenile Division investigated and found the bottle, which contained a brownish liquid, and saw the child had a brown stain on his shirt, Pohlmann said.

The boy was checked out by medical technicians but didn’t require being hospitalized. His mother was called to pick him up.

It wasn’t known how much was consumed.

The couple wouldn’t acknowledge the boy drank any alcoholic beverage, although they said they had put some daiquiri in the bottle, Pohlmann said.

Lee remained in St. Bernard Parish Prison on Monday, under a probation hold. Manuel was released on $5,000 bond.

Also during the parade, two riders on separate floats were arrested on obscenity-related offenses, Pohlmann said.

Ray Miller Jr., 22, 2128 Liviccari Drive, Violet, was removed from the float booked with obscenity and disturbing the peace after allegedly exposing himself to the crowd while on Float 35.

In a separate incident, Danielle McDevitt, 22, 2301 Edenborn Ave., Metairie, was booked with obscenity and disturbing the peace by being intoxicated after parade-goers told a deputy she had been dancing on the Float 28 "in exotic fashion’’ and had exposed one breast from a bikini top, a report of the incident said.
 
She too was pulled off the float and arrested.

Miller and McDevitt were both released on bonds but the amounts weren’t available.

Mar 6, 2010 - Sheriff Jack A. Stephens announces “Operation Medicine Cabinet,’’ an effort by the Sheriff’s Office to encourage residents to turn in prescription medications no longer needed and to be vigilant in storing  prescription medications at home to prevent them from falling into the hands of others.

Studies have shown many teen-agers start using drugs by stealing prescription tablets from their parents, relatives and friends’ parents, including such drugs as Vicodin, Xanax and Valium, the sheriff said.

“Operation Medicine Cabinet’’ is an attempt to reduce the availability of prescription drugs among those who don’t have a legitimate medical reason for having them, Sheriff Stephens said.

As of now, residents can call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-DOPE and arrangements will be made to have unneeded prescription drugs turned in and destroyed, according to Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann and Col. Chad Clark, commander of the Special Investigations Division which includes the sheriff’s Narcotics Unit.

“A collection program for leftover prescription medications makes sense so that they don’t end up being stolen by your children or friends of your children who visit your home,’’ Pohlmann said. All prescription drugs turned in to the Sheriff’s Office will be incinerated, he said.

“Don’t toss them in the trash where they can be removed by someone,’’ Pohlmann said. “And don’t flush them in a bathroom. Such drugs already are polluting water supplies and trace amounts are being found in fish and in water supplies.’’

Clark said, “We are asking for everyone to spend a little time going through your medicine cabinet and do an inventory to see what you need and what is unnecessary or even outdated. Call 271-DOPE, which is handled by the sheriff’s SID, and arrangements will be made to destroy the drugs properly.’’

Clark also said that in talking with teen-agers who are addicted to prescription medications, “they often say they have raided their parents’ medicine cabinet and even friends’ parents’ medicine cabinets. Parents need to make sure they have a means of properly storing prescriptions drugs so they don’t end up in the hands of others.’’

The group Partnership for a Drug Free America has estimated that each day 2,500 youngsters across the nation abuse prescription drugs for the first time and that teen-agers now abuse prescription medications more than any illicit drug except marijuana.
 

Also, Pohlmann said, a new mobile crime scene van will have the latest technology for collecting evidence at the scene of crimes, regular sobriety checkpoints are being conducted to catch motorists driving impaired on alcohol or drugs and in the last year several old sheriff’s programs have been re-established. Those include the popular Citizens Police Academy to foster good relations between law enforcement and residents and the D.A.R.E. anti-drug and violence programs in parish schools to show children that through self respect they gain the strength to resist the temptations and peer pressure around them.

Fourteen more sheriff’s deputies are being added through money from the federal stimulus package to help government entities will soon be available, Pohlmann said, adding, “We expect that to have a big impact on law enforcement in the parish.’’

Seven of them are in training academies and will graduate in April,’’ said Pohlmann, who was the guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club luncheon in Chalmette on March 2.

Pohlmann said eight of the 14 will go to the patrol division of the Sheriff’s Office and the increased number will also allow four current deputies to go to the Special Investigations Division to concentrate on narcotics enforcement and two to the Detective Bureau to handle follow-up investigations on crimes. New hires will replace deputies who go to the specialized groups.

“We believe we are doing well at catching the guys who commit crimes,’’ Pohlmann said. Detectives, commanded by Col. John Doran, have solved numerous property crimes, which are driven by drug addicts stealing to support their habits, which is why the Sheriff’s Office places such an emphasis on narcotics enforcement, Pohlmann said. He said the Narcotics Unit, commanded by Col. Chad Clark who is head of SID, made more than 1,000 arrests last year and have dismantled some large-scale drug distribution networks.

	Kiwanis Club President Sam Catalanotto at the podium with Pohlmann.

"Our communications division is answering 3,000 calls a month for service of all types from the public. Our Parish Prison is seeing 300 arrests a month being made and dealing with housing arrestees that can't make bail.''

Also, "Our department has named a domestic violence officer to deal with cases involving domestic abuse and we have partnered with the Battered Women's Shelter in St. Bernard to make sure victims know they have a place to turn to for help in getting themselves out of an abusive relationship,'' Pohlmann said.

He added, “We are also starting a basketball league for at-risk youths to give special emphasis to the problems they have to deal with, including instruction on health risks and tips for how to dress and conduct themselves in job interviews.’’