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May 31, 2012 - St. Bernard Community Playground in Torres Park in Chalmette has been a special place for children since it was built in 2003 by volunteers led by coordinator Polly Campbell, civic activist, teacher and former clerk of the Parish Council.

The playground, with its unusual look including wooden picket fences, was also rebuilt by volunteers across St. Bernard in the Spring of 2008 after vandals heavily damaged it in an arson fire on New Year’s night.

Now the playground is getting a new batch of mulch on the ground – thousands of yards of crushed hardwood delivered in three 18-wheel trucks – to keep it safe for children who may take spills while playing in the area or on the equipment such as giant slides.

Campbell, along with Sheriff’s Office inmate labor from Parish Prison, parish government workers and parish equipment began the work Thursday, May 31.. Parish government is paying for the mulch, she said. Campbell said the playground is so special because it was built by volunteers who donated their time and have an investment it it. She said anyone who sees children older than 12 in the playground or spots anyone vandalizing the area or being abusive to children should report it to the Sheriff’s Office, at 271-2501.

Shown is the entrance to the playground behind the Sigur Civic Center. Also shown are Campbell and Sheriff’s Dep. James Harper of the Corrections Division, who are working with trusty prisoners to spread the mulch in the large playground area. Campbell and inmates under the supervision of Sheriff’s Dep. Brian Cadzow are also shown working a different area of the playground. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

May 29, 2012 -With a ribbon-cutting to mark the occasion, Rocky & Carlos Restaurant in Chalmette – which opened in 1965 and re-opened in 2007 after Hurricane Katrina – threw its doors open for business again on Tuesday, May 29, after being closed for months because of a fire in February.

A number of people were waiting in line outside the famous restaurant at 613 West St. Bernard Highway when it opened after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, with District Attorney John F. “Jack’’ Rowley handling the cutting duties, along with former Parish Police Juror John Metzler Sr., shown to Rowley’s right.

Rowley and Metzler were at the 1965 grand opening of Rocky & Carlos. Others taking part in the ceremonies included Tommy Tommaseo, at right, son of one of the original owners, the late Rocky Tommaseo; Parish President David Peralta, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann, Council Chair Guy McInnis, Councilman Casey Hunnicutt, Chamber of Commerce officials and Father Danny Digay of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Chalmette. Digay is also shown blessing the restaurant with holy water before the ribbon-cutting. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

May 28, 2012 - Two men, one from Violet and the other from New Orleans, who were caught speeding, were found to have seven individually wrapped bags of cocaine, $613 cash and pieces of four prescription tablets late Wednesday night, May 23, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

Russell W. Moore, 22, 2129 Delta Queen Drive, the driver, and Gary W. Jones, 21, 7814 Spruce St., New Orleans, were both booked with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of the pills and possession of paraphernalia including a digital scale and plastic bags like the type the bags of cocaine were in, Poholmann said.

Sheriff’s Dep. Ryan Melerine stopped their speeding vehicle about 11:45 p.m. going east on West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. Moore acted suspiciously after the stop and Melerine received verbal consent for a search of the vehicle, Pohlmann said.

The deputy found a bag containing the $613, a container with 7 individually wrapped bags – some with powdered cocaine inside and some with crack cocaine - along with pieces of four tablets in a bottle, a box of sandwich baggies and the scale.

About 1.5 grams of cocaine were recovered.

Moore and Jones were booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison and both have been released on bond.

In an unrelated case, Lois Trahan, 49, 3405 Veronica Drive, Chalmette, was arrested May 21 after she called a pharmacy to refill a prescription for 100 Hydrocodone pain tablets in the name of her mother, who had died April 19, then went to the pharmacy and picked them up, Pohlmann said.

She was stopped in the store parking lot while in possession of the prescription bag and asked about her mother. Trahan initially said the mother was under hospice care, then when confronted about her mother having died, acknowledged the truth and said she had been her mother’s care-giver. She also said she was going to use the pain pills to ease a tooth ache she had.

Trahan was arrested, booked with obtaining a prescription by fraud or deceit and with illegal possession of the pain pills, and was later released on bond.

Also, in a May 23 incident, Robin Hood, 45, 2133 Pirate Drive, Chalmette, was booked with possession with intent to distribute methadone, a prescription drug prescribed to help addicts get off heroin or for extreme pain. Hood was also booked with possession of about seven grams of marijuana and with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Narcotics agents executed a search warrant signed by a judge and found at Hood’s residence 13 ½ methadone pills, worth some $40 each when sold on the streets, along with $123 cash, the marijuana and paraphernalia, consisting of rolling papers, smoking devices, a cigarette rolling machine and a small scale.

He was jailed but has been released on bond.

May 24, 2012 - Thirteen homes in Arabi received damage – mostly to roofs, sides of homes and to sheds - and trees were toppled during a likely tornado whose funnel cloud was spotted in the area during a rain storm on Wednesday, May 23, but no one was injured, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

Homes on the streets Perrin, Chincilla, Llama, Cougar, Schnell and Puma received damage in the incident that happened about 3 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office received calls from residents whose homes were damaged and from witnesses who reported seeing a funnel cloud, Pohlmann said. Sheriff’s deputies were on the scenes afterward, along with workers from parish government who put up temporary tarps over some damaged roofs and took care of uprooted trees.

Entergy also responded to electrical outages in the area. Shown, workers put up a tarp over a damaged home on Chincilla, as Parish President David Peralta is on the scene. Also, workers are shown hauling away an uprooted tree on Chincilla. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

May 23, 2012 - A Meraux man was caught burglarizing a truck in a church parking lot in Chalmette during Sunday morning service and was held by a parishioner until responding sheriff’s deputies arrived, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

Chase Gosnell, 25, 2117 Paul Drive, was seen just after 8 a.m. on May 20, searching through a truck in a church parking lot on Paris Road after a woman went into the church and reported seeing him trying to open vehicle doors, Pohlmann said.

A man who was in the church came out and confronted Gosnell, who attempted to flee, but the man grabbed Gosnell and held him until deputies soon arrived.

The owner of the truck, when questioned, told an officer he had left the vehicle unlocked because he didn’t think anyone would burglarize it in a church parking lot.

Pohlmann, who has said the majority of vehicles burglarized in St. Bernard Parish have been left unlocked, said the incident points up the importance of remembering to lock them, whether in a driveway at home or parked elsewhere including at church.

Gosnell was booked with simple burglary and was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $20,000 bond.

In a separate incident May 12, Juan Rodgers, 30, of New Orleans, was booked with possession of a stolen motorcycle and aggravated flight from sheriff’s deputies after he took off at a high rate of speed when officers tried to stop him about 12:15 a.m., Pohlmann said.

The incident started on Paris Road and Rodgers ran stop lights going west on West St. Bernard Highway attempting to escape. But the rider lost control and the motorcycle ran off the roadway at Center Street in Arabi, where he was arrested after a struggle.

The cycle was reported stolen in Lafayette.

Rodgers, also booked with not having a driver’s license, was booked into Parish Prison but has been released on bond set at $30,000.

Also, Melissa Smith, 30, 1405 Bayou Road, St. Bernard community, was arrested recently on several drug counts including possession of four kinds of prescription pills totaling 74 tablets, possession of a small amount of marijuana and with disturbing the peace.

Deputies called to the scene of a disturbance found her to have slurred speech and seemingly impaired, Pohlmann said. The drugs were later found.

Smith has been released on $7,000 bond.

Adults from the Arc rode 3-wheel bicycles in the Torch Run that were put together by Sheriff’s Office inmate labor.

May 18, 2012 - Jean Lafitte Parkway in Chalmette came alive with the “Flame of Hope’’ on Thursday, May 17, during the St. Bernard leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Louisiana.

About 35 deputies from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, four agents from the state Wildlife Department and associates of the new Arc center for people with intellectual disabilities participated.

The Torch Run, which included adults on 3-wheel bicycles from the Arc Center at 3700 Jean Lafitte – which is the rebuilt former rectory for Prince of Peace Catholic Church – started and ended at the Arc. The center, which opened in the last year, provides a support system for intellectually disabled adults.

“The Flame of Hope’’ torch, symbol of the Special Olympics torch run, was carried by children and adults from Arc. The Sheriff’s provided an escort for the run.

The aim was to bring awareness to Special Olympics Louisiana and the State Summer Games held each May in Hammond. The event in St. Bernard raised in excess of $500 for Special Olympics.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics was celebrating its 29th year. More than 2,000 law enforcement officers took part statewide.

Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann, who visited the Arc before the Torch Run to congratulate participants.

The following St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies took part in the Torch Run or donated money:

Brian Clark, Scott Maitrejean, David Hebert, Robert Roger, Tommy Duplessis, Mike Plaiscia, Jason Saltalmachia, Daniel Bostic, Leander Morgan, Joseph Alfonso, Chris Cousins, Lisa Jackson, Richard Jackson, Chip Englande, Ronnie Martin, Chad Clark.

Jessica Gernados, Wayne Babin, Andre Dominick, Brad Alfonso, Jacob Ricourd, Robert Mire, David Culpepper, Jeff Babin, Ronnie Johnson, James Harper, Chad Silcio, Adrian Chalona, Adolph Kreger, Justin Meyers, Eric Eilers, Clinton Nation, Ryan Laylle, Katie Poche.

Taking part from the state Wildlife and Fisheries Department were Brett Nabors, Jason Gernados and Scott Keller.

Tag’s Meat Market of Chalmette donated the food for the post-race lunch for the participants from Arc and the law enforcement officers who took part in the Torch Run.

May 17, 2012 - The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office is trying to identify a suspect in several vehicle burglaries and an auto theft in Arabi in the early morning hours of May 13. A man shown in a store surveillance photo was among at least two men who tried to use credit cards stolen in the burglaries at gasoline pumps and other places after the break-ins.

Anyone who can identify the man, who is wearing a distinctive hat and T-shirt, should call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504)822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward if an arrest is made, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

David Cook, 28, shot by narcotics agents when he tried to run over them

May 16, 2012 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s narcotics agents shot and wounded a man on Tuesday May 15 when he tried to run over them in a car while fleeing as they moved in on foot to arrest him during a narcotics investigation in Arabi, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

The suspect, David Cook, 28, 4500 S. Claiborne Ave., New Orleans, who has prior convictions for drugs and burglary, was struck when officers fired at the Nissan auto he was driving as he tried to get away, Pohlmann said.

Cook is in guarded condition in University Hospital after surgery for gunshot wounds. He was alone in the car.

One of the narcotics officers was slightly injured by the vehicle Cook was driving but was treated at the scene and didn’t require going to a hospital, Pohlmann said. No others were injured.

The incident happened about 3 p.m. in the 6500 block of Chartres St., which is at the intersection of Angela Street in Old Arabi, a short street that dead ends into the Jackson Barracks National Guard base at the Orleans Parish line, and is only blocks from the Mississippi River.

Witnesses who lived in the area have been interviewed by the Sheriff’s Office.

Pohlmann said at the scene on Tuesday afternoon the Sheriff's Office immediately began to investigate the incident.

“Our narcotics Unit was conducting an investigation’’ at the time of the incident, Pohlmann said. “The suspect tried to flee and hit one deputy, who had minor injuries, and nearly struck other deputies," Pohlmann said.

"When we are dealing with narcotics investigations, it is a risky business," Pohlmann said. "Generally the drug dealers have guns” and violence can occur, he said.

Cook didn’t fire any weapon at officers, Pohlmann said, but added that a vehicle weighs a couple of thousands of pounds and can a lethal weapon.

Cook could face several counts of attempted murder of police officers as well as drug charges as a result of the incident.

May 15, 2012 - Graduation ceremonies for students in the sheriff’s Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, or D.A.R.E., were held recently at Lynn Oaks School and Willie Smith Elementary.

Seven 5th-graders were in the program at Lynn Oaks and about 60 at Willie Smith. Lt. Lisa Jackson, head of the D.A.R.E. program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller are the instructors. Shown from Willie Smith are the essay winners, seated from left and wearing their medals: Ataia Williams, Fallon Mulholland, Teandranae Alveris and Treasure Carr and in back are Jackson, Miller, Sheriff’s Maj. Mark Poche, Cpl. Jessica Garnados of the Narcotics Unit and Principal Dedra M. Bailey. Also shown are the group who presented a D.A.R.E. skit as characters from the Wizard of Oz, from left, Chauntis Gaspard as the Lion, Allen White as the Tin Man, Steven Bienemy as the Lion and Destiny Johnson as Dorothy. At Lynn Oaks, where Kim Duplantier is principal, school essay winner Login Treuil is shown in front and behind her are graduates Noah Buras, Shelby Dean, Kiersten Earl, Luke Lafrance, Jaz’lyn Mosely and Matthew Nata. In back are Jackson, Miller, 5th-grade teacher Joyce Tucker, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann and Maj. Mitch Roussell. Also, students are shown enjoying snacks after the ceremony. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

May 14, 2012 - Here’s a simple and cheap idea that could persuade a burglar not to mess with your home: Put a big, dog’s water bowl at your back door or near the driveway at the front. Keep it half-full and occasionally wash it out so algae doesn’t grow.

And you don’t even have to own a dog. But it will give the impression a big canine is inside.

That’s one of the tips Capt. Charles Borchers says can be easily done by any resident as a precaution against crime. Borchers can be reached at (504) 278-7828 to receive crime prevention tips, form a Neighborhood Watch group in an area or register for the next Sheriff’s Office free Citizens Police Academy classes.

Borchers, director of Crime Prevention for the Sheriff’s Office, shared numerous safety recommendations for residents during the sheriff’s free lecture program called “Refuse to be a Victim,’’ held May 9 at Nunez College in Chalmette.

Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann, who takes office July 1, began the free program a year ago and the series has been given twice.

“Capt. Charles Borchers is an expert on crime prevention and residents should contact him to get involved in free programs he heads,’’ Pohlmann said.

Most of Borchers’ ideas involve advice in areas including what types of locks are the best for protecting homes and businesses – he recommends double cylinder deadbolt locks with large screws put an inch into a large, solid frame so a door can’t be easily kicked open.

He also suggests video surveillance cameras for those who can afford them, light-timers, alarm systems and motion lights as anti-crime strategies at home and businesses.

Borchers cautioned to never leave garage openers in a vehicle parked in a driveway because once a burglar gets into a garage they have privacy and easy access to get into the home.

He also emphasized to the audience, “You have to have a mental plan of action’’ at home or when traveling to be on alert for potential criminals.

As an example he asked audience members what they would do if they are alone at home and someone came to the door saying they had a package for them to sign for but their delivery truck wasn’t visible nearby. Should they open the door?

The best recommendation would be to ask the person to leave the paper to be signed at their door and go across the street while the resident opened the door to sign it, Borchers said.

What if a stranger came to the door and said they needed to use a phone because there had been an accident. Tell them you will dial the number for them without them coming inside, unless they are with someone you know, he said.

Borchers also told participants, “Never leave empty boxes out in front of your home for garbage pick-up because it advertises what new items people have bought and have inside their residence.” Instead, he said, cut up boxes and place them inside plastic bags and put the whole thing in your mini-dumpsters.

When out, easily purchased pepper spray with a clip is available so that it can be kept on a safety belt in a vehicle or inside a purse, Borchers said. Even a loud whistle on a key chain is a good idea for people to have for personal protection.

If someone wants to carry a gun in their vehicle it’s legal as an extension of your residence, Borchers said, but to carry it outside on your person a permit is required, as well as weapons safety training by a certified instructor.

When parking a vehicle at a shopping center don’t settle for the first parking spot. If at night, find one with the best lighting available and look around for suspicious people before getting out or going back to the vehicle, he said.

If going on a trip out of town on business or vacation, never leave a message on your phone telling people you will be away and don’t forget to stop delivery of newspapers and arrange to have a neighbor or friend pick up mail if possible.

While in another state or city be extra cautious in noticing your immediate environment before parking and be careful about carrying suit cases and cameras that mark you as a tourist. Also, be careful about others lurking in hotels and in the areas of motels you stay at. When driving around in a rental vehicle toss a cap in the back window from one of the area’s sports teams so you look like a local, Borchers said.

“Just use common sense.’’

May 13, 2012 - Arrests have been made in four recent St. Bernard Parish burglaries and one of the people is a suspect in several other break-ins and thefts, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

In two of the solved cases victims were home when the burglaries took place. In one instance a Violet resident who was in a bedroom reported a shot fired through a wall after the home was broken into and said he saw a man he knew and had been arguing with recently run away, Pohlmann said.

In an unrelated case, an Arabi woman was forced into a closet by intruders in her home and one man who was part if that burglary was later arrested in Jefferson Parish and has been tied to the Arabi break-in based on a truck registered to him, Pohlmann said.

He said Nicholas Smiles, 28, of Violet, surrendered to St. Bernard authorites Friday night, May 11, after learning an arrest warrant for aggravated burglary had been issued by a judge, alleging he broke into a Violet home on Delta Queen Drive on May 10 and fired a shot. Smiles was jailed pending an appearance before a judge to have bond set.

In the Arabi burglary which happened April 27, sheriff’s detectives were able to get a warrant for the arrest of Rodrick Natteel, 34, of New Orleans, for aggravated battery after establishing a truck registered to Natteel was seen by the victim parked outside her home on Mehle Avenue just before the burglary, Pohlmann said.

The Arabi victim identified Natteel’s truck from photos after he was arrested in Jefferson Parish on May 3 for an aggravated burglary of a residence there. Nattell, who has a lengthy criminal record including serving prison time, is jailed in Jefferson.

The victim, who wasn’t injured in the break-in, reporting she heard the voices of several men after they broke into her home.

St. Bernard detectives developed information that a truck registered to Natteel was also seen leaving St. Bernard after the burglary and it had the same license plate number of the truck Natteel had when he was arrested in Jefferson, Pohlmann said.

Natteel would face charges in St. Bernard after prosecution in Jefferson.

In the other unrelated burglary arrests, Rusty Alphonso Jr., 28, who lived at 549 Mehle Ave., was booked May 9 with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling on West Prosper Street in Chalmette and is being held in Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $40,000.

But Pohlmann said Alphonso has been identified as the suspect in several other burglaries and thefts including some in the area where he had lived in Arabi. Investigation is continuing by detectives, Pohlmann said.

In a fourth burglary solves, two men and a woman were booked May 2 with unauthorized entry of a business, an auto business on East Liberaux Street in Chalmette where scrap metal was stolen.

Arrested by patrol deputies were Charles Egano, 50, 2208 Edgar Drive, Violet; Stephen Somerville, 50, 1900 Heights Drive, St. Bernard community; and Denise Borden, 42, 7513 Asteroid Drive, Violet.

They were arrested in a truck at a Chalmette business after the business owner reported seeing three people drive off in a truck after entering his property and stealing items. The property was recovered in the bed of the truck.

No bond information was available on the three arrested.

Joseph McGuire, left, arrested in Jefferson Parish, and Frederick Huguet, right, caught in St. Bernard Parish on Monday, May 7, in connection with a carjacking in Old Metairie.

May 08, 2012 - A man wanted in Jefferson Parish for an April 22 carjacking was arrested in eastern St. Bernard Parish on Monday, May 7, where he was staying with friends, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann and Jefferson Parish authorities said.

Frederick Huguet, 26, who had been living in LaPlace but is a native of St. Bernard, was arrested at a trailer residence on Gnell Drive in St. Bernard, following a tip made to Crimestoppers.

St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and an FBI task force on violent crime made the arrest of Huguet, Pohlmann said. Huguest has been sent back to Jefferson Parish to be prosecuted.

Joseph McGuire, 24, of LaPlace was booked in April with first-degree robbery and simple burglary in the same carjacking case. Jefferson sheriff’s detectives said at the time they had identified the second suspect as Huguet.

McGuire and Huguet are accused of carjacking a pickup truck from a 20-yeaar-old Metairie man on April 22. The victim said he parked his vehicle and was walking with his girlfriend to her residence, then noticed the interior lights on in the truck and a man leaning inside an open door.

That man was McGuire, who ran off when confronted by the victim. But Huguet allegedly approached the victim, ordered him to the ground and McGuire returned, then they took the victim's wallet, keys and cell phone.

The pair then drove off in the pick-up truck, which was recovered three blocks away.

May 08, 2012 - Capt. Charles Borchers has been appointed interim head of the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division and is accepting applications for volunteer officers at (504) 278-7628, Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann said.

Borchers became interim head of reserves following the April 21 death of long-time Reserve Division commander Col. Gerald “Jerry’’ Rathburn.

Borchers, who is also director of crime prevention including the Neighborhood Watch program, will accept applications for Reserve Division volunteer officers who live in the parish and have a clean police record. Those accepted will supplement the Sheriff’s Office regular force of sheriff’s deputies, Pohlmann said.

Also, residents should call Borchers if they want information on forming a Neighorhood Watch group in their area or want to register for other Sheriff’s Office free programs like the Citizens Police Academy or Refuse to be a Victim.

Reserve officers add to department manpower for specific situations such as working during athletic events, parades, festivals and other events. It is an unpaid volunteer job.

“Some have gone on to become regular sheriff’s deputies and are still with us,’’ Pohlmann said.

“Applicants don’t need a background in law enforcement’’ to be a reserve officer, Borchers said. “We will give you the training but wanting do it to help your parish is the big thing.’’

To apply for the Reserve Division an applicant:

- Must live in St. Bernard Parish
- Have a clean police record. Background checks and drug screens would be done on applicants
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have earned a high school diploma or GED

For more information, call Borchers at (504) 278-7676. Those who want to follow up with an application will be directed to fill out the required paperwork, he said.

May 08, 2012 - Resuming their good-natured rivalry, the Sheriff’s Office beat the Fire Department 5-4 in a cabbage ball game at St. Bernard Middle School on May 4 to benefit the parish Animal Shelter. After falling behind, the deputies won in their last at bat.

The game was organized by students in the gifted program at St. Bernard Middle and money collected from the sale of drinks and other snacks will go the animal shelter. Shown are players from the teams, with fire fighters forming a line on the left and sheriff’s deputies on the right. Kneeling in the middle are students from the gifted program, from left, Arden LeBlanc, Austin Mankin and Alyssa Smith, who were part of organizing the game.

Behind them are Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Ellis, Mike Blaise, umpire for the game; Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann and teacher Carla Di Stefano of the gifted program. Also shown, Dep. Sheriff Robert Turnage heads home with the winning run for the Sheriff’s Office and a fire fighter takes a swing. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

May 07, 2012 - The Sheriff’s Office Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, or D.A.R.E., held its graduation ceremonies for 5th-graders at C.F. Rowley School in Chalmette on May 3.

Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann told the 10 students in the program they have to think carefully about choices they make because they could have to live with poor ones, such as hanging with the wrong crowd or use of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, for the rest of their lives. D.A.R.E. program instructors Lt. Lisa Jackson, who commands the sheriff’s program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller, led the ceremonies, with Principal Pat Pourciau and teachers Emily Barlow and Aimee Kidder also participating.

Faculty and parents attended the gathering. Jasmine Ralleigh was recognized as the essay winner for the class and she addressed other students. Shown are D.A.R.E. graduates, including Ralleigh, third from left on the front row and who is wearing the medal she received; while in the back row, from left, are Barlow, Miller, Jackson, Maj. Mark Poche, Pourciau and Kidder.

The students are shown standing to sing the D.A.R.E. program theme song to faculty and parents; Pohlmann is shown talking to students and graduates and parents are shown receiving snacks and drinks after the ceremony. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

Col. Jerry Rathburn

May 03, 2012 - Trudy M. Rathburn, widow of St. Bernard Sheriff’s Col. Gerald "Jerry" Rathburn, said she was happy to learn the parish’s 911 emergency center in Chalmette will be dedicated and renamed in honor of her husband, who died April 21 after an illness. He has been credited as the driving force behind St. Bernard’s modern 911 system.

“I think it’s wonderful,’’ Trudy Rathburn said at a Parish Council meeting May 1, where the Council and President David Peralta honored the memory of Rathburn with a proclamation given to her. Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann and numerous Sheriff’s Office representatives also attended.The Col. Jerry Rathburn Communications Center, as it will be called, is on West. Bernard Highway.

“Jerry would be so proud,’’ Mrs. Rathburn said of her husband, who was 80 years old and after retiring from private business had served in numerous capacities for the Sheriff’s Office, including head of the Communications and Technology Divisions and its Reserve Division.

“He loved his job. He never would have quit,’’ Mrs. Rathburn said. Her daughter, Dawn Russell, also attended the Council meeting. Pohlmann announced that all parties involved including the parish’s 911 District, for which Rathburn served as technical adviser, the owners of the land, parish government and the Sheriff’s Office agreed on naming the center in his honor.

“Jerry worked behind the scenes for many years and he had a big impact on law enforcement under three sheriffs and played an important role in our modern 911 system,’’ Pohlmann told the Council and audience members.

“He was the brains behind what we have today,’’ including the inter-operable radio system that allows various entities such as the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and others to communicate with each other, Pohlmann said. “What we have today is a tribute to Jerry Rathburn.”

For years, Rathburn was responsible for the 911 emergency system, and computer, radio and telephone systems of the department. He worked for years in private business before joining the Sheriff’s Office in 1987 and had been a member of the Reserve Division before he headed it for years.

He also was a Marine Corp. veteran of the Korean Conflict and was retired from Western Electric/Lucent Technologies.

wo students, Gabrielle Ronquille, at left,      Students enjoy food, drinks and other snacks after the graduation ceremony. and Taylor Gelvin, chat with Sheriff-elect Pohlmann after the ceremony.

May 02, 2012 - About 75 5th-graders at the new Gauthier Elementary School in eastern St. Bernard Parish graduated the D.A.R.E., or Drug Awareness Resistance Education, program on May 1, given by St. Bernard sheriff’s officers Lt. Lisa Jackson, commander of the program, and Sgt. Darrin Miller.

Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann, who attended the ceremony with Jackson, Miller and Narcotics Unit Capt. Richard Jackson, told parents to stay engaged with their children now and as they get older by talking with them regularly and looking for warning signs to help prevent drug use.

Parents must help children avoid the peer pressure to get involved with drugs, alcohol or violence, Pohlmann told the audience.

Such signs include:

- Loss of interest in things they used to do like such as sports or reading.

- Hanging around with new groups of friends unknown to parents.

- Sudden attitude or mood swings.

- Sudden problems connected with school and academics.

Pohlmann believes that if parents see signs of possible problems, they shouldn’t hesitant to ask what is happening and, if necessary, use home drug-test kits to make sure they aren’t on drugs.

The 5th-graders took part in skits based on the themes of D.A.R.E. and all children received graduation certificates, followed by food and drinks provided by sponsors of the D.A.R.E. program.

Three students, Madison Melerine, Jerrell Andrews and Hannah Robin, were announced as essay winners and addressed theor classmates, faculty and parents.

May 01, 2012- Four St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies recently completed the 11-week Peace Officers Standards and Training course, or P.O.S.T., given at the Slidell Police Academy, which included officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the area. All four are full-time officers in St. Bernard Parish. Shown at the ceremonies, from left, are Maj. David DiMaggio, Director of Training for the Sheriff’s Office; incoming Chief Deputy Richard Baumy, Dep. Donald Shreve, Jr., Dep. Jill Beebe, Dep. Ronald Stigler Jr., Dep. Carlo Cacioppo and Sheriff-elect James Pohlmann. Sheriff’s Office photo.