Feb 28, 2011 - Residents near the age of 30 in St. Bernard Parish wouldn’t remember any parish sheriff other than Jack A. Stephens.

Sheriff Stephens took office July 1, 1984, after his first election the previous year and is now in his 7th term, giving him nearly 27 years in office – currently the longest serving sheriff in Louisiana.

Now, to honor his career, the non-profit group Crimestoppers Inc. of Greater New Orleans has named Sheriff Stephens recipient of its Sheriff Harry Lee Criminal Justice Award, named for the man who served Jefferson Parish as sheriff from 1980 until his death in 2007 at age 75 after a battle with leukemia.

Lee, known for his shoot-from-the-hip style, was one of the most famous politicians in Louisiana history.

Sheriff Stephens, who will receive the award at a luncheon on Thursday, March 17, said he was caught off-guard when his office was informed of it by Darlene Cusanza, President and CEO of Crimestoppers.

“I was surprised,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. “Harry was a friend for a long time and I had a great deal of respect and affection for him.

“I’m honored to be the recipient of an award named for him.’’

Sheriff Stephens added, “Anything I have achieved as sheriff has been because of the work of the men and women of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office.’’

Cusanza, whose organization is celebrating 30 years of offering rewards for information on crime in the area – leading to numerous arrests – said the Sheriff Harry Lee Award is given “in recognition of someone who has served the community in the criminal justice arena.’’

“It’s in recognition of his career,’’ Cusanza said of Sheriff Stephens.

Tickets to the luncheon are $50 in advance and can be purchased by phoning (504) 837-8477 or by going online to crimestoppersgno.org, Cusanza said.

She said of Sheriff Stephens: “He has been a wonderful friend and ally to Crimestoppers over the years,’’ saying for example, “He supported and assisted in lobbying for a $2 court fee in cases to help the reward process (for Crimestoppers) reach up to $2,500 and has provided someone to work with us to forward information for investigation.’’

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Sheriff’s Office,’’ Cusanza said.

Sheriff Stephens previously received a major honor in law enforcement when, in August 2008, he was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in recognition of his career in law enforcement.

He has enjoyed the reputation of serving the community with the lowest crime rate in Southeast Louisiana.

Sheriff Stephens, who previously was Chief Administrative Officer of St. Bernard government and director of its Planning Commission, is a life-long parish resident. He was born in the fishing community of Shell Beach, where he still lives on the water and loves to catch the area’s wonderful seafood.

The sheriff was graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1966, earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Loyola University, attended Loyola Law School and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University. He also was graduated from the FBI Law Enforcement Training Academy.

A list if some of the things Sheriff Stephens has accomplished in office include:

- Bringing professionalism to a suburban Sheriff’s Office

- Started up a network of sheriff’s sub-stations at all parish lines to help protect St. Bernard’s borders

- Built a modern parish prison and juvenile detention center to have room for offenders rather than releasing them

- Established an Internal Affairs Division

- Started the first holiday ride home program in the New Orleans area to help prevent drinking-and-driving

- Tripled the number of law enforcement personnel in his department

- Created the Neighborhood Watch program to fight crime and Citizens Police Academy to teach residents basic operational procedures of the Sheriff’s Office and court system

- Established dope and traffic hotlines to battle drug-dealers and traffic violators

- Opened a 24-hour shelter for victims of domestic violence and has established a full-time domestic violence detective slot to handle follow-up investigations in domestic violence cases.

- Established the Sheriff’s Office as an active member of Crimestoppers to give incentives for people to report leads in unsolved crimes

- Oversaw the largest seizure ever of illegal drugs in St. Bernard in 1991, more than two tons of cocaine valued at $1 billion

Bags and foil packets of heroin, as well as some marijuana, cocaine and cash seized by St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Feb 25, 2011 - Eleven people were arrested in a major heroin operation conducted by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, including several dealers and an on-duty St. Bernard Parish firefighter who called a dealer to buy $50 worth and showed up in full uniform to get it during a work break, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said.

Just under an ounce of heroin worth several thousand dollars on the streets was recovered and four heroin dealers, from Chalmette, New Orleans, Kenner and Gretna, Sheriff Stephens said. Ten people were booked on heroin charges and the 11th on a cocaine charge.

The operation began with information on one heroin dealer, who was arrested and expanded to other arrests with further investigation.
The dealers, all booked with possession with intent to distribute heroin, were identified as:

- Darren Gallin, 46, of Kenner, of the 5400 block of Williams Boulevard, Kenner, who had 72 wrapped foil packets totaling 10 grams of heroin worth $1,450.
- Rondell Petterson, 26, 2727 Central Ave., Gretna; who had 7.8 grams of heroin worth $1,050. He was also booked with possession with intent to distribute 1.5 grams of crack cocaine and with obstruction of justice.
- Edrena Martinez, 41, 2727 Carondelet St., New Orleans, was also booked with possession with intent to distribute 1.5 grams of crack after she showed up at a location driving a vehicle occupied by Petterson, the sheriff said.
- Aaron Steel, 50, 301 Plantation Drive, Apt. 229, Chalmette, who had 48 wrapped packets totaling four grams of heroin worth about $1,000. He was also booked with possession of a small amount of marijuana.
- Chris Kendrick, 43, 2009 Law St., New Orleans, who had 2.5 grams of heroin.

The arrests were carried out Wednesday night and Thursday, Feb. 23 and 24, by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark.

The St. Bernard firefighter was identified as Lucas Chizzonite, 26, 2312 Gallant St., Chalmette, booked with possession of nearly a gram of heroin worth about $120, which was found at his residence after his arrest; attempted possession of $50 worth of heroin, possession of a small amount of marijuana found at his residence and possession of drug paraphernalia, which were syringes and spoons.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Chizzonite resigned from the Fire Department after his arrest on Feb. 24, the sheriff said.

Sheriff Stephens said the firefighter telephoned one of the dealers and asked to purchase $50 of heroin and was arrested when he showed up, on duty and in full uniform during a break from work. A syringe was found on him and he told agents he had more syringes at his residence.

Stephens said that when officers went to his home they found Kellie Odinet, 30, who lived there. After the firefighter signed a consent to search form, agents located three small bags of heroin totaling nearly a gram, numerous hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes and numerous syringes.

Odinet was booked with possession of heroin, marijuana and the drug paraphernalia.

Other arrests included: April Adams, 26, 2008 Bobolink Drive, St. Bernard community and Richard Leon, 31, of Chalmette, no address available, both booked with attempted possession of heroin when they showed up at a location to buy heroin, the sheriff said.

Joshua McReynolds, 24, and Tabetha Sholar, 20, both of Bay St. Louis, were also both booked with attempted possession of heroin when they arrived together at a location to purchase the drug, Sheriff Stephens said.

Feb 24, 2011 - A youth enrichment program designed to help kids make good decisions and a basketball league to give them a healthy outlet will again be organized by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office and held at the Willie Smith School gym in Violet, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Boys and girls ages 10-14 will register for the program on Friday, March 11, beginning at 6 p.m. Those 15-19 will register Friday, April 8 at the same time, Pohlmann said.

Some 40 boys and girls took part last year in the league and educational enrichment sessions, which is a part of the Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach program.

Pohlmann said, “It’s important we provide a wholesome outlet in sports for our children, as well as relating some life lessons including health and safety tips and practical advice like how to fill out job applications and dress for job interviews.’’ He added, “It’s about making the right decisions in life.’’

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, will again work with Yancey Aisola, who is a civilian employee of the Sheriff’s Office, and Sgt. Tony Bruscato, as well as several adult volunteers from the community.

Jackson said, “I think it went well last year’’ and it was decided to extend the program and league to younger kids this year. She said the 10-14 age group and the 15-19 group will play separately because of the age difference.

“We will have speakers talk to participants on topics including the HIV virus and how to protect themselves – again, about making right choices,’’ Jackson said.

The enrichment program and the basketball league are patterned after similar programs that have shown success for at-risk youth, 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.’’

St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies, Lt. Brent Bourgeois, driving, and Sgt. Chris Scheeler, in passenger seat holding a weapon, searched woods next to the Violet Canal both by 4-wheel off-road vehicle and on foot on Monday, Feb. 21, but saw no sign of the panther reportedly seen by residents in Violet. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents also participated in the search. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

Feb 21, 2011 - St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies, along with agents from the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, searched woods near the Violet Canal on Monday, Feb. 21, after reports by residents they may have seen a panther in their area who went back into the trees and brush, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

He said no such animal was seen by searchers, who used a 4-wheel off-road vehicle and also walked through woods lying between East St. Bernard Highway and East Judge Perez Drive, just east of the Violet Canal at Violet.

Pohlmann said at the scene of the search that, “We’ve had several reports from residents about them seeing a large, fast animal they believe may be a panther, who approached their area before going back into the woods and we are trying to find out what we can.”

The animal that was seen was larger than a dog and had a long tail but didn’t display any aggressiveness, Pohlmann said. There haven’t been reports of attacks but the Sheriff’s Office will continue investigating, he said.

Collins Fernandez and his wife, Linda, who live on Jules Brown Drive at B Street in Violet, between East St. Bernard Highway and a wooded area just north of their residence, said they both saw the animal the night of Thursday, Feb. 17.

Mrs. Fernandez saw it in a vacant lot across from their home and her husband saw it race back to the wooded area. “It moved too fast to be a normal cat or dog,’’ she said.

Her husband said, “Its long tail distinguished it.’’ He added, “It wasn’t aggressive.’’

Anyone who sees the animal should call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501.

Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Kenney has appointed as Quality of Life Officer for the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office. Shown are, from Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, Kenney and Capt. Charles Borchers, Crime Prevention Director. Kenney can reached at his Hotline Number, (504) 278-7799, or through Crime Prevention at (504) 278-7628. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

Feb 21, 2011 - Any St. Bernard Parish residents know of vacant houses they believe are being used for criminal activity, or of illegally operating boarding houses, or repeated acts of vandalism and graffiti, or maybe abandoned vehicles?

If so, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said those are the types of problems the Sheriff’s Office’s new Quality of Life Officer wants to hear about and work to eliminate.

Veteran Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Kenney has been named to the newly created post for the Sheriff’s Office, and will act as a bridge to parish government for code enforcement problems that involve possible criminal violations, Pohlmann said.

A hotline number of (504) 278-7799 has been set up to take complaints about problems. Residents can also reach Kenney through the Crime Prevention office, at (504) 278-7628. Capt. Charles Borchers is head of Crime Prevention for the Sheriff’s Office.

Pohlmann said, “We know blight fosters crime and we want to work with parish government to identify problems of blight and other issues that have become criminal violations.’’

The mission of the officer “will be to provide and maintain a safe and desirable living and working environment to the people of St. Bernard Parish,’’ Pohlmann said, “by acting as a rapid response to issues that are detrimental to the quality of life for our people.’’

Kenney, who started with the Sheriff’s Office in 1995, will work with each neighborhood association in St. Bernard Parish to work on problems that come up within a particular area, Pohlmann said.

These will include, although not limited to:
 •  Unoccupied buildings being used for criminal activity
 •  Loitering
 •  Unsafe abandoned housing and/or swimming pools
 •  Abandoned vehicles
 •  Unlawful boarding houses
 •  Vandalism/graffiti
 •  Repeated complaints of illegal parking or loud music or other disturbances
 •  Long-term animal control issues

Pohlmann said issues requiring long-term investigation by specialized units such as Sheriff’s Detectives or agents in the Narcotics Unit will be documented by the Quality of Life Officer and forwarded to the appropriate sheriff’s division.

He said the new position could also result in more street level intelligence for the Sheriff’s Office as Kenney is contacted by the public and becomes engaged in increased community interaction.
 

Feb 19, 2011 - Reporting illegal drug activity in St. Bernard Parish is now as easy as a few finger strokes on a cell phone key pad.

For those who are text-friendly, they can send an anonymous text message to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office to help get drug-dealers out of communities, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said.

St. Bernard Parish is the first law enforcement agency in the New Orleans area to use text messaging to receive crime tips, the sheriff said. The non-profit group Crimestoppers also allows text messaging.

“Many people, especially the younger generation, are completely comfortable using texting today and may find it easier than calling us on a phone,’’ Sheriff Stephens said, “especially since they are assured their message is totally confidential, with no way for us to know who has sent it to us.”

Pictures taken with cell phone cameras to support information being given to authorities can also be texted, the sheriff said.

Text messages on drug activity can be sent to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at 274637, with the word CRIMES in parentheses after the number. For instance, 274637 (CRIMES) in the subject box it should say SBSOTIPS.

The new text method is another option to get information to the Sheriff’s Office, which already includes phoning the sheriff’s drug hotline at (504) 271-DOPE and leaving an anonymous message, or e-mailing information to sbsonarcotics@sbso.org.

Text messages about drugs would be received 24 hours a day
by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark, who said the new system was implemented to encourage more parish residents to report illegal drug activity.

The new program is part of the Text-A-Tip system that nationally has resulted in 1.6 million crime tips to law enforcement, with some 122,000 arrests, Sheriff Stephens said.

Courtney Gary, 31, shot by St. Bernard sheriff’s deputy while struggling for officer’s weapon. Center, Sharon Amie, 47, of Arabi, ordered the crack cocaine Gary was delivering. Right, Anthony Segari, 21, son of Amie and booked on marijuana charge.

Feb 18, 2011 - A sheriff’s deputy in the St. Bernard Parish Narcotics Unit shot and wounded a New Orleans man who grabbed for the officer’s gun Thursday night, Feb. 17, when the man was caught delivering crack cocaine to a resident in Arabi.

Courtney Gary, 31, was shot once to the head in a struggle for the gun when the officer tried to reach into the vehicle Gary was driving to turn off the engine. Gary was taken to University Hospital in New Orleans after the 9:15 p.m. shooting in the 300 block of Perrin Drive in Arabi, just off Rowley Boulevard and one block from West St. Bernard Highway.

St. Bernard Parish Shriff Jack A. Stephens said doctors “are fairly optimistic he (Gary) will survive. “I’m thankful no officers were hurt,’’ Stephens said. “And I’m glad that it looks like Mr. Gary will survive. No one in the department wakes up and says ‘”I think I’m going to kill a dope dealer today.’’’

The incident that occurred outside 312 Perrin was unusual in that it happened when sheriff’s Narcotics Unit officers were already on the scene and getting ready to conduct a marijuana buy from a 21-year-old man who lived at that address. But before they could make that arresdt, Gary drove up and a woman who turned out to be the mother of the alleged marijuana dealer went outside to pick up a small amount of crack cocaine she had ordered from Gary, Sheriff Stephens said.

Officers didn’t know who had come out of the house and moved in to investigate and saw the crack deal taking place, the sheriff said.

	Sheriff Jack A. Stephens at news conference discussing the shooting of Gary. (STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO)

Anthony Segari, the 21-yer-old year-old son of the woman who was going to buy the crack cocaine from Gary, was booked with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. A quarter-pound of high gradee marijuana was found in the house he shares with his mother and grandmother.

Segari’s mother, Sharon Kay Amie, 47, wasn’t arrested at the time but will be booked with attempted possession of crack cocaine, the sheriff said. He also said Amie acknowledged to investigators she had called Gary to ask for crack and said he reluctantly agreed to come to St. Bernard Parish. The woman she had bought drugs from Gary in the past.

In a statement, she also backed up the officers’ claim they shouted to Gary that they were police and ordered him to stop. They were also wearing clothing identifying them as police, the sheriff said.

The sheriff also said he believes officers acted correctly in the manner in which they tried to stop Gary from driving away.

About $350 worth of crack cocaine and about $100 worth of heroin were recovered in the Yukon that Gary was driving, along with about $3,200 in cash, leading sheriff’s officials to assume he was selling drugs in various areas that night.

Upon Gary’s release from the hospital he will be booked with possession with intent to distribute crack and heroin, the sheriff said.
Col. Chad Clark, head the Special Investigations Division that includes the Narcotics Unit, said Gary also has a criminal history and is on probation for a cocaine conviction in New Orleans. Also, Gary was booked in 2002 with both accessory to first-degree murder in New Orleans and with second-degree murder.

The first-degree murder charge wasn’t accepted by the district attorney’s office in New Orleans, and while the second-degree murder case was accepted for prosecution there was no information available on what happened to the case.

Feb 17, 2011 -A man seen stumbling in a Chalmette supermarket parking lot caught the attention of St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives who stopped him and ended up booking him with attempting to defraud a 68-year-old man on Thursday, Feb. 17, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Authorities were trying to determine the identity of the person they arrested, who had a Tennessee driver’s license on him in the name of Isaiah Hardaway Jr., 57, of Memphis. He was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison with attempted theft by fraud, providing a fale name and being drunk in public, Pohlmann said.

The arrested suspect was carrying three large rolls of money, each with $100 bills on the outside and numerous $1 bills under it, Pohlmann said.

Based on an interview with the 68-year old Baton Rouge man whom the other man had approached in a Wal Mart parking lot, sheriff’s detectives believe the arrested suspect was trying to run a fraud scheme often called the “drop the pigeon,’’ Pohlmann said.

Typically, the scheme involves a con man trying to gain the confidence of a victim by asking for help and promising to share money if the victim withdraws “good faith’’ money from a bank, then the swindler steals that money, Pohlmann Said.

The Baton Rouge man, whose name was withheld, said the arrested man approached him and asked for help in reading a letter from an insurance company which said the arrested man was supposed to inherit a large sum. The man also showed the 68-year-old a roll of money and asked for help in putting it in a bank. The 68-year walked away and later told investigating detectives something seemed wrong to him.

Sheriff’s detectives saw the man later arrested stumbling around and when questioned he had alcohol on his breath, Pohlmann said. The Baton Rouge man came out of the store and told detectives about his encounter with the man.

Officers who patted down the arrested suspect for their protection felt a bulge and found the three rolls of money on the man, as well as the letter allegedly from an insurance company, Pohlmann said.

Chief of Detectives Col. John Doran, who was on the scene of the arrest, said the scenario described by the Baton Rouge man is typical of a “drop the pigeon’’ scheme. He said a Chalmette man was cheated out of several thousand dollars in a similar swindle just before Christmas and that victim will be asked to view a photo lineup of several men to see if he can identify the man in custody.

It is believed another man dropped off the arrested suspect in the latest case just before the incident, but he hasn’t been located.

Anyone with information on the case or anyone who may have been a victim of a similar scheme in which no arrest has been made should call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, Pohlmann said.

Photos: Top left, man believed to be Isaiah Hardaway Jr., 57, of Memphis, booked with attempted fraud, is handcuffed beside a St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s patrol car.  Bottom left, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Det. Trey Delaune holds a roll of money, with a $100 bill on the outside and a number of $1 bills inside, that were recovered in the arrest. In the background is Sheriff’s Det. Sgt. Donald Johnson, looking at the money.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. Johnell Young, nominated for national award.

Feb 16, 2011 -St. Bernard Parish residents can cast a vote for a St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputy who has been nominated for an award on the TV show America’s Most Wanted’s web site.

Cpl. Johnell Young of the Special Investigations Division and 10-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, is up for consideration for an award from the TV show America’s Most Wanted for helping save the life of another deputy in a Dec. 12 fiery car crash in Violet.

Deputy Jeffery Westerfield’s patrol car struck a tree on a neutral ground when he lost control while heading to check out a a burglary alarm at a bank.

Young, who was working an off-duty security detail but saw the patrol car pass and noticed something had happened, went to the scene of the crash.  Along with two young St. Bernard residents who were passing by, Eric Alfonso and Ray Henritzy Jr., helped pull the injured deputy to safety jump before his burning car was engulfed in flames, which saved his life.

To cast a ballot, go to www.amw.com/allstar and look for the picture of Young in order to vote.

Feb 14, 2011 - More than two pounds of unusually high-grade marijuana worth an estimated $13,600 has been seized and two Chalmette men arrested, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said.

Cuong Nguyen, 28, and a cousin, Quoc Nguyen, 27, both of 2621 Marietta Drive, Chalmette, were booked with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and with possession of drug paraphernalia including a vacuum sealer used to seal bags and a digital scale.

Both have also been released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on bonds of $20,000 each.

The sheriff said it was an unusually large amount of extremely high-grade marijuana, of the type grown indoors, which is most often seen in only small quantities in St. Bernard Parish.

Cuong Nguyen was spotted Feb. 4 in a vehicle, acting suspiciously, in a super market parking lot in Chalmette, Sheriff Stephens said. When he was questioned, about an ounce of the marijuana was found and officers decided to seek a warrant from a judge to search his residence, believing he likely had more of the high-quality marijuana there, the sheriff said.

About two pounds of the same type marijuana was found in his room at a residence where his family lives, the sheriff said. The drugs would have sold on the streets for about $13,600, he said.

Cuong Nguyen shares the room with his cousin, Quoc Nguyen, who wasn’t at the residence at the time of the search, authorities said. An arrest warrant for Quoc Nguyen was later obtained and he was arrested Feb. 9.

Both men were arrested by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark.
 

Feb 9, 2011 - Crime Tracker, a computerized mapping system that pinpoints crime and other incidents throughout St. Bernard Parish, is helping the Sheriff’s Office develop the best strategies for prevention, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

And now, Pohlmann said, the department is inviting neighborhood groups to set up a presentation to see Crime Tracker information for their area and discuss crime prevention in general.

Maj. John Gutierrez can be called at (504) 278-7640 to schedule an event.

Crime Tracker is a computerized system that integrates data bases into more or less real time, showing on a map where crime and other incidents such as traffic citations have taken place in specific areas over a set period.

Pohlmann said Crime Tracker “is an enhancement of crime-fighting strategies, a tool that can be used to see where emphasis needs to be placed.’’

“You see what’s happening and where. It gives a snapshot of crime and arrests in an area,’’ Pohlmann said. For example, burglaries taking place at varying times in a certain area can be called up on a computerized map and studied.

The Sheriff’s Office has been using the system in staff meetings among division heads to discuss crime patterns and how to react to them. It’s similar to the ConStat system used by various police departments, Pohlmann said.

Recently, the Crime Tracker system was presented to a meeting of the Lexington Place Civic Corporation in Meraux.

St. Bernard doesn’t have much violent crime, for instance here hasn’t been a murder in more than two years and rhe parish went 18 months without any shootings, Pohlmann told members of the civic association.  But there are property crimes such as burglaries and thefts and many are driven by the culprit’s need for money to buy illegal drugs, he said.

When crimes are reported or arrests made, they go into data bases used by the Crime Tracker system, Pohlmann said.

Pohlmann and Gutierrez showed a computerized track of where crime or arrests occurred in Lexington Place over the past month, laid out on a map of streets.

“We want to know patterns of crime so we can piece together information,’’ Pohlmann said. “It’s important that if something happens we put it in here’’ so crime can be seen in real time. “It allow us to prepare a strategy (for stopping crime) and implement it.’’

Then that can be compared to information including the addresses where convicted criminals, for instance those who have been released from prison, are known to live. Sheriff’s detectives and deputies work off such information in solving crimes, Pohlmann said.

He said parish residents are the eyes and ears of law enforcement because they know their neighborhoods – who belongs and who is a stranger. That’s why it’s so important to call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 if they see suspicions activity.  “If you don’t report something we may never know about it.” And it won’t go into the data bases for Crime Tracker.

Deputies look into anything suspicious they see on patrol, including stopping people on streets to question them and perhaps fill out information cards on them, but residents are important, Pohlmann said. Forming Neighborhood Watch groups by calling 271-7628 is important to crime prevention, he said.

Pohlmann said things that might not seem important to residents at the time could be helpful for police to learn: such as people coming and going from a particular house and staying just a few minutes – which could be indicative of drug activity. Or, he said, if strangers are sitting in parked vehicles in neighborhoods that could be a burglar casing houses for potential break-ins. Call that in and a deputy will check it out shortly, Pohlmann said, adding many burglaries have been quickly solved by timely calls from witnesses.

Jerry Troxclair, president of the Lexington Place civic group, said he liked the Crime Tracker presentation and encourages other neighborhood groups to call the Sheriff’s Office to see it.

“I was impressed. It was interesting to see we have the technology to do this and can use it to study crime patterns to help stop crime,’’ Troxclair said.

“It makes us feel a lot safer. It shows us (residents of an area) the spots where we can be working on’’ in a neighborhood, he said, such as making sure a street light is replaced when you can see thefts have taken place in that area at night by someone taking advantage of the darkness.

Troxclair also said it was glad to hear the Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to call in anything suspicious-looking and that no one will consider it time wasted if deputies check out a call and find nothing wrong. “It’s good to hear that if we see something we should pick up the phone and call,’’ Troxclair said.
Polly Campbell, former president of the Lexington Place group and currently involved in an effort to connect neighborhood groups in the parish, said the great part of Crime Tracker was, “We could look at areas that were hot spots and look at real numbers.”

“Sometimes people in a neighborhood react to one incident and think it’s bad,’’ Campbell said. Putting incidents on a computerized map, “lets you see it in perspective. You get real data instead of sensationalism. It gives actual incidents that took place.””

“You can see if there are repeated incidents in one area,’’ Campbell said. “Maybe a (street) light is out there that has never been replaced and people are hanging around. It gives you something to work with.’’

“I liked that we were made to feel comfortable about calling in any incident because the more information the Sheriff’s Office has the better it is,’’ Campbell said.

Pieces of information are connected to overall patterns, she said “If you realize you need to be the neighborhood eyes and ears you will be more likely to call it in.”

“It’s all part of an organized effort to fight crime and I feel a lot more comfortable knowing the Sheriff’s Office is looking at that information,’’ Campbell said.

Feb 4, 2011 - The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office participated Thursday, Feb. 3 in the arrest of a man wanted for attempted murder in New Orleans in October 2010, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Thomas Hankton, 34, was arrested on a warrant charging him with attempted murder in the multiple shooting of a 65-year-old man Oct. 24 in the 6800 block of Glengary Road. The victim survived.
Hankton was booked at St. Bernard Parish Prison as a fugitive, then transferred to New Orleans, Pohlmann said.
The NOPD’s Violent Offender Unit and U.S. deputy marshals – who were assisted by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives - learned of Hankton’s whereabouts and arrested him without incident at a Chalmette business where he worked, Pohlmann said.

Feb 3, 2011 - The Sheriff’s Office will offer St. Bernard Parish residents a free 4-hour program called Refuse to be a Crime Victim, which concentrates on improving personal safety strategies both at home and away, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

He said seminars will held in March and residents can call Capt. Charles Borchers, Crime Prevention Director for the Sheriff’s Office, at (504) 278-7628, for more information on dates and times and to sign-up for the program.

“In St. Bernard we have the safest parish in the New Orleans area,’’ Pohlmann said, “and we want t keep it that way. The Refuse to be a Victim program is another initiative from our department we believe can help residents to prevent being victimized.”

Pohlmann said, “It’s about personal safety tips and techniques you can learn to avoid potential dangerous situations. We strive at the Sheriff’s Office to make residents feel safe in our parish but this program will also help you when you travel out of St. Bernard, such as going into other parishes or traveling out-of-state for business or on vacation.’’

“I encourage residents to take advantage of this free program we will offer,’’ Pohlmann said. Residents who have taken part in any of the sheriff’s Citizen’s Police Academy classes should consider taking the Refuse to be a Crime Victim seminar, he said.

Borchers said experts agree the single most important step toward ensuring personal safety is making the decision to refuse to be a victim. “That means that you must have an overall personal safety strategy in place before you need it to avoid dangerous situations and prevent criminal confrontations.’’

The 4-hour course teaches participants techniques and tactics that can be used to help avoid becoming easy victims, Borchers said. All materials required will be provided free, he said.
“Some of it is as simple as being aware of your surroundings at all times,’’ said Borchers, who will teach the course.

In general, the seminars will heighten public awareness of what can and should be done to stay safe. Topics that are covered in a typical seminar include:

• Psychology of Criminal Predators
• Mental Preparedness
• Home Security
• Physical Security
• Workplace Security
• Parents and Children From Pre-School to College
• Senior Citizens  • Automobile Security
• Out-Of-Town Travel Security
• Technological Security
• Self-Defense Physical Training
• Personal Protection Devices
• Persons With Physical Disabilities
• Domestic Violence
• Stalking

Often asked questions about the Refuse to be a Victim course include:

Q: Is this a self-defense course?
A: It is a personal safety program that teaches strategies you can use to avoid situations where self-defense is required. This course focuses on proactive courses of action, rather than reactive. Criminals prefer easy targets. By making yourself more difficult to prey upon, you lessen your risk of criminal attack. That means having a personal safety strategy in place before you need it.

Q: Who can attend the seminars?
A: The Refuse To Be A Victim seminar covers topics that pertain to both men and women. The information covered is appropriate for young adults to senior citizens. In addition, the Refuse To Be A Victim program materials also include a special teaching module for parents which discusses tips for children ages pre-school to college.

Q: Is there a fee?
A: All seminars held by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office are free.

The Refuse to be a Victim program was developed in 1993 by the National Rifle Association.

(Left) Keith Guerra, 50, booked in seizure of 13 marijuana plants and $4,155 cash. (Right), Some of the marijuana plants, the grow system and cash seized in arrest of Keith Guerra

Feb 1, 2011 - Three men and a woman were arrested in four separate narcotics cases including the seizure of 13 high-grade marijuana plants, one-half pound of loose marijuana, a grow system and $4,155 in cash, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said.

The other three cases involved confiscating $500 in crack cocaine and an ounce of marijuana, the discovery of heroin being brought into St. Bernard Parish Prison by a woman and finding $700 worth of the prescription drug Suboxone, used for treating heroin addiction.

Keith Guerra, 50, 2501 W. Fanz Road, Lot 105, eastern St. Bernard Parish, was stopped Jan. 29 on traffic charges and four marijuana seeds were found in a bag and he had the $4155 in cash. Guerra, who has two previous marijuana convictions, admitted he had marijuana at his mother’s residence and when she agreed to a search there the marijuana grow system was found, the sheriff said.

There were 10 mature high-grade plants in his room and three plants which had been harvested. There was also about a half-pound of marijuana in a bag, a gun and a lighting system, a watering system and fertilizer, Sheriff Stephens said.

Gueera, being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond, was booked with cultivation of marijuana plants valued at $4,000 each for a total of $52,000, with possession with intent to distribute 220 grams of marijuana worth $4,400, possession of a firearm while in possession of controlled dangerous substances and on traffic violations.

In the crack cocaine case, Zachary Alveris, 44, 2113 Centanni Drive in the Poydras area, was booked Jan. 28 with possession with intent to distribute five grams of crack cocaine worth $500 total, possession with intent to distribute an ounce of marijuana and possession of six tablets of the prescription drugs hydrocodone and Xanax, the sheriff said.

Alveris is jailed in lieu of $25,000 bond.

In the heroin case, Stacy Pitts, 43, 2416 Marietta Drive, Chalmette, was booked Jan. 23 with introduction of contraband, a bag of heroin, into a prison facility and with distribution of heroin inside the St. Bernard Parish Prison by sharing it with three other women under arrest, the sheriff said. There was no bond information available on the suspect.

Prison officials investigated the case.

Also, Timothy Kinkella, 24, of Slidell, was booked Jan. 10 with possession with intent to distribute 49 tablets of the prescription drug Suboxone, used in the treatment of heroin addiction after he was stopped on traffic charges. He claimed the tablets were his wife’s medication. There was no bond information available on the suspect.

All of the arrests except the one in prison were made by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark.