Oct. 31, 2011- A St. Bernard man was killed in a one-vehicle accident on East Judge Perez Drive at Torres Drive in the eastern part of the parish early Sunday morning, Oct. 30, Louisiana State Police Troop B said.

The driver in the 7:45 a.m. accident was identified as Eduardo Y. Gonzalez-Guzman, 32, who was transported to the Interim LSU Public Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center where he was later pronounced dead.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a four door Honda was traveling east on LA 39 and, for unknown reasons, the driver left the roadway, flipped over and came to rest in a canal.

Impairment is suspected as a factor in the crash and toxicology results are pending an autopsy, State Police said. Gonzalez-Guzman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and there were no other occupants in the vehicle.

Nicolas Salas-Rivera, booked on warrant charging him with child sex crime in Texas

Oct. 31, 2011 - A man wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child in Texas was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office after receiving information he had moved to Chalmette and was working at a job in the area, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Nicolas Salas-Rivera, 49, was found outside an aparment house where he was living and was walking to his vehicle when he was taken into custody by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, Pohlmann said.

He was wanted on an arrest warrant issued in Hidalgo, Texas, in the Houston area, Pohlmann said. Authorities in Texas informed the Sheriff’s Office recently they had information Salas-Rivera was living in a certain apartment complex in Chalmette and gave a description of his vehicle.

When deputies got there they saw a vehicle matching the description and soon saw the wanted man walking ti it, Pohlmann said.

There wasn’t any information available on the case in which he was wanted on the charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

After being booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison as a fugitive he was shortly returned to Texas for prosecution, Pohlmann said.

In an unrelated matter, John J. Bailey, 30, 2809 Pecan Drive, Chalmette, was arrested Oct. 16 after he broke into the home of a woman he previously had a relationshiop with and used a knife to threaten her, the woman’s teen-age daughter and a friend of the daughter when they came home, Pohlmann said.

The woman was struck and the daughter was hit when he tried to hel her mother.

Bailey let the girl’s go when another young person came to the door asking about the friend of the daughter, Pohlmann said.

Bailey, who forced the woman he knew to drive him to a residence, left the parish.

The Sheriff’s Office, which learned of the incident when called to the house afterward, obtained warrants from a judge for the arrest of Bailey.

Sheriff’s Det. Sgt. Jeff Vega got information Bailey was in Jefferson Parish and called the Jefferson Sheriff’s Office, which arrested him, Pohlmann said.

When transferred to St. Bernard Parish Prison, Bailey was booked with aggravated burglary of the victim’s Chalmette home, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, cruelty to juveniles and domestic abuse battery.

Bailey is jailed in lieu of bond set at $695,000.

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Richard Mendel puts a flier on the door of a registered sex offender in Arabi on Tuesday, Oct. 25, reminding them they can’t give out candy to minors on Halloween, under state law. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

Oct. 25, 2011 - St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said all registered, convicted sex offenders in the parish are getting a visit from sheriff’s detectives before Halloween and again on that day and it won’t be to give them a trick-or-treat.

They are being reminded, Pohlmann said, that under state law registered sex offenders can’t distribute candy or other gifts to persons under the age of 18 at Halloween, Mardi Gras, Easter, Christmas or any other holiday for which candy is often given out to minors.

He said violators of the law shall be sentenced to a term in prison of not less than six months and up to three years.

“This is something we take seriously,’’ Pohlmann said. “The law is there to protect minors from coming in contact with a registered sex offender at their home, in the guise of them giving candy or gifts. He said parents or escorts walking with minors as they trick-or-treat should make sure children avoid residences where fliers are posted saying “No Candy.’’

Every parish has registered sex offenders and parents should be aware of this.

“Our people are going to the homes of such offenders in advance of Halloween, reminding them of the law prohibiting giving candy and its penalties,’’ Pohllmann said. “We tell them we will be doing a compliance check on Halloween and if they don’t follow the law they will be arrested."

Detectives, Pohlmann said, are bringing a copy of a flier which says “No candy at this residence’’ for registered sex offenders to place near their front door.

The Sheriff’s Offices wants the resident to put up the flier “for their benefit as well as minors,’’ Pohlmann said, because they will be arrested if a deputy passes back and children are at their door and the registered sex offender is mingling with them.

Compliance checks by the Sheriff’s Office also make sure the registered sex offender is living at the address they last gave to authorities when they either moved to St. Bernard or changed their address.

Pohlmnn said the OffenderWatch program on registered sex offenders across Louisiana informs the public where the offenders live in neighborhoods and gives information on their convictions. The information can be found on the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Web Site at www.sbso.org or on the Louisiana State Police Web Site. The site is maintained in St. Bernard Parish by Detective Capt. Jeff Roderfeld

“Take advantage of this available information and be aware of whether registered sex offenders live in your neighborhood,’’ Pohlmann said.

Oct. 25, 2011 - A $5 million Sheriff’s Annex administration building has opened at its old location behind the Parish Courthouse. The public can go to the Civil Division there, effective Oct. 31, to get occupational licenses or pay taxes and traffic fines. Also, traffic accident reports are available there from the Records Division. Work on the building, funded by FEMA and some insurance proceeds, began in April 2010 after demolition of the original two-story Katrina-damaged Annex, which dated to 1963 and housed the old Police Jury government until the late 1970s. That’s when the Sheriff’s Office functions moved there. The new building has two stories of office space and is elevated off the ground. Shown, a prison work crew member prepares to plant bushes in front of the building, which faces Pakenham Drive at No. 2 Courthouse Square, behind the old Courthouse on West St. Bernard Highway. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

Several pounds of prescription medication turned in by St. Bernard Parish residents in Septemer 2010 during a National Prescription Drug Take-Back day. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

Oct. 23, 2011 - Residents can turn in unused prescption drugs at the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office station at 5429 Paris Road in Chalmette from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, as part of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take-Back Day, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

A sheriff’s depty will be present as the Sheriff’s Office provides a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs.

Pohlmann said the Sheriff’s Office has been receiving old prescription medications the past 18 months under what it calls “Operation Medicine Cabinet.’’

“Residents are encouraged to empty out medicine cabinets and get rid of such drugs so they don’t fall into the hands of youngsters who get hooked on them or thieves who would re-sell them on the streets,’’ Pohlmann said.

He also said residents can call the sheriff’s 271-DOPE hotline at any time and leave a message about turning in prescription drugs and a Narcotics Unit agent will get back to you and make arrangements for getting them so they can be destroyed.

The Sheriff’s Office has collected more than 6,000 prescription medicines, mostly pills, and destroyed them since April 2010.

Also, the department has taken part in two previous National Drug Take-Back days held in conjunction with the federal DEA and State Police, Pohlmann said.

DEA says the take-back day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue because more than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.  Studies show a majority of such prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Teens have admitted stealing from their families or parents of friends to get presciption drugs.

DEA, with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted Drug Take Back Days on September 25, 2010, and April 25, 2011. Nearly, 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in these events, collecting more than 309 tons of pills.

Four days after last fall’s Take-Back Day, Congress passed legislation amending the Controlled Substances Act to allow the DEA to develop a process for people to safely dispose of their prescription drugs and the law was signed by President Obama.

DEA will continue to hold Take-Back days every six months until that process is complete.

Oct. 23, 2011-The Sheriff’s Office, partnering with FEMA and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, will be breaking ground in 2012 on two sheriff’s substations in Arabi near the Orleans Parish line to replace ones destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

One substation will be at Aycock Street and West Judge Perez Drive, with an estimated construction cost of $4 million, and the other on St. Claude Avenue at the Jackson Barracks National Guard base, with an estimated cost of $1 million. Both will be elevated to protect them from a possible flood.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said rebuilding the substations at the parish line, which will replace temporary quarters, “Is an important step for us because we believe those substations in the past helped serve as a barrier between criminal elements in New Orleans and the residents and businesses in St. Bernard Parish.’’

“Just as before the storm they will clearly be marked as Sheriff’s Office facilities,’’ Pohlmann said, “meaning anyone coming here will see they have to go back out past a police station if they commit a crime in St. Bernard.

“It’s partly a psychological effect to have those substations at the line but it also means the capability of being able to react quickly to close off St. Claude or West Judge Perez if a crime is committed and we believe suspects are trying to get away to New Orleans,’’ Pohlmann said.

A third substation on Paris Road at the Orleans line has been reopened since Katrina.

The SBSO disaster recovery team lead by Pohlmann in his duties of running the department day-to-day, contracted the services of the firm Camp, Dresser & Mckee, Inc., experienced with disaster recovery management services, to assist in working on the substations projects with FEMA and the state.

The sheriff’s disaster recovery team which consists of Sheriff Jack Stephens, Pohlmann, Civil Sheriff Jo Ann Lane, Deputy Chief Richard Baumy, Comptroller Bryan Polk and CDM Project Manager Douglas Landry, have finalized negotiations with FEMA and GOHSEP to fund 100% of the reconstruction cost for both substations.

Oct. 21, 2011- As it has for years, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will step up DWI and traffic enforcement on Halloween, Oct. 31, for the protection of trick-or-treating children and adult party-goers, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Motorists are asked to slow down, be extra cautious and specifically watch for pedestrians,’’ Pohlmann said.

He said there will be extra patrols on highways and in neighborhoods to enforce DWI laws and traffic laws. Drivers should also look for possible road blocks in neighborhoods.

“Children and their parents who are trick-or-treating should be especially careful in areas where there are vacant properties, where streets are under repair or where the lighting is bad,” said Capt. Charles Borchers, director of crime prevention for the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office.

And in St. Bernard, because of the ongoing rebuilding process, Borchers said there are things trick-or-treaters and their escorts should watch for that are specific to our parish. Included are abandoned houses that may be still under repair and should be avoided because of the possibility of children falling over outside construction items or debris removed from a house.

Here are some other tips offered by the Sheriff’s Office:

Make sure children understand to never enter a stranger’s home, and when trick-or-treating is over no goodies should be eaten until they are taken home and sorted out to check that they are safe.

Plan to wear costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

Also, when shopping for costumes, wigs or accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame-resistant.

Secure emergency identification, such as your child’s name, address, and phone number, discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.

Consider using makeup rather than masks since masks can limit or block visibility.

Provide each child with a flashlight or battery-powered lantern with fresh batteries.

Always travel in groups and make sure a parent or responsible adult accompanies young children on their neighborhood rounds.

Make sure children know their home phone number or a parent’s cell phone number and to how call 911 if they have an emergency or become lost.

Only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods at homes that have a lit porch light.

Secure pets at home so they don’t get excited or run away when children come to your residence looking for treats.

Shawn Ramee, 19, of Algiers to be booked in St. Bernard with armed robbery and carjacking.

Oct. 21, 2011 - Three Algiers teen-age males, one 18 and two 16-year-olds, will be booked in St. Bernard Parish for the Oct. 19 armed robbery and carjacking of a woman they followed from the Bywater area of New Orleans to Chalmette, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The woman, who lives in Chalmette, was robbed of a phone, an IPOD and a GPS at gunpoint by a male about 11 p.m. after parking at her apartmen complex, Pohlmann said.

The victim wasn’t injured but was also forced to hand over the keys to her vehicle and the robber fled in it. She said she noticed another vehicle behind her just before she parked. She had just left a friend’s residence in the Bywater area of New Orleans and apparently was followed for the purpose of carjacking, Pohlmann said.

“A carjacking is a dangerous situation and we are glad nothing more than the taking of the victim’s car and other items took place,’’ Pohlmann said.

He added any time a motorist notices another driver apparently following them they should call the Sheriff’s Office by cell phone at 911 or 271-2501 and shouldn’t park and get out until a sheriff’s deputy has met them at an arranged location. If you don’t have a phone, drive to a sheriff’s station or a public place where there are other people.

Less than an hour after the carjacking, just after midnight, New Orleans police – who by chance had found a stolen car in Algiers and were surveiling it to see if someone came back to it – saw another car pull up and park near the first one, Pohlmann said.

He said three males in the vehicle got out and walked to a nearby residence they entered and the officers on the scene matched the license plate of the car that was parked to the report from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office about the carjacked victim’s missing vehicle.

The NOPD officers went to the home, spoke to an adult, and confirmed three young men were inside and they went in to question them.

Once inside, the officers found all of the items reported stolen from the woman in Chalmette when she was robbed, including her car keys, Pohlmann said.

Shawn Ramee, 18, who lived at the house, and the two 16-year-olds whose names weren’t released because they are minors, were all booked with possession of stolen property and jailed in New Orleans, Pohlmann said.

He said based on the facts, St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives obtained warrants from a St. Bernard judge for the arrest of all three for armed robbery and carjacking.

“We thank New Orleans police for their heads-up effort in spotting and arresting the teen-agers who were in the victim’s car,’’ Pohlmann said.

The minors have been transferred to the St. Bernard Juvenile Detention Center and Ramee, when he is released in New Orleans, will be brought to St. Bernard to be prosecuted, Pohlmann said.

Oct. 20, 2011-A section of Paris Road was closed in both directions Thursday afternoon and eveing between Judge Perez Drive and Genie Street after an 18-wheel tanker truck carrying butane overturned following an accident with another vehicle, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann and Fire Chief Thomas Stone said.

Many businesses along the section of highway closed after the 3 p.m. accident in the 3200 block of Paris Road, when the truck, headed south toward the Valero refinery in Meraux, collided with a car, then overturned and ending up on its side in front of a business.

The drivers, whose names weren’t released by early evening, suffered only minor injuries, Pohlmann said.

The tanker wasn’t leaking, but firefighters, State Police hazardous materials officials were on the scene and the Sheriff’s Office closed the section of roadway and re-routed traffic.

Crews were working into the night to get the truck righted so its load of butane could be off-loaded at a nearby refinery.

Pohlmann said the drivers were fortunate not to be more seriously injured. State Police were investigating how the accident happened.

It was the second time in four days a part of Paris Road was closed for hours because of accidents. The road was closed Monday, Oct. 17, from Judge Perez to St. Bernard Highway because of a motorist striking an electrical pole and knocking out power in the area.

Oct. 17, 2011-Three lanes of Paris Road in Chalmette were closed for several hours Monday from La. 46 to Judge Perez Drive on Monday, Oct. 17, after a motorist blacked out because of an apparent medical condition and snapped a utility pole at East Moreau Street at Paris Road, which caused a power outage in the area, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Several parked vehicles on East Moreau Street, one block north of St. Bernard Highway, were also struck but no one else was injured. The driver, whose name wasn’t available, was taken by ambulance for medical evaluation.

The accident happened about 2:40 p.m., forcing the closure of all but the southbound lane on Paris Road from La. 46 to Judge Perez as crews from entergy repaired damaged electrical lines. Traffic wasn’t affected on the other major highways.

There wasn’t an estimated time for reopning the other lanes of traffic.

Oct. 15, 2011 - Face-painting, games, making model helicopters and special items on display such as a robot added up to fun at the annual Kids’ Safety Day on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Home Depot Store in Chalmette. Sheriff’s motorcycles, a SWAT team truck, boats, McGruff the Crime Dog and the bomb robot used for checking out suspicious items were there, along with a Fire Department smokehouse to show how to escape a burning building, an emergency operations center and Louisiana State Police displays. Shown: children play in a special outdoor area; Donald Hentze of Arabi sits on a motorcycle with Sheriff’s Dep. Jarrod Gourgues as mother Monica Hentze stands nearby; Mathew Mellon of Chalmette makes a model helicopter as Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann talks with him; Kenneth Mackyeon of Chalmette shows off his face-painting; and Conner Huerstel and grandmother Charlene Huerstel of Arabi look at the sheriff’s bomb robot, controlled by Capt. Daniel Doucet. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

Oct. 15, 2011-Sheriff’s detectives are trying to identify the owner of a recovered green and black Kawasaki 650 4-wheel all-terrain vehicle possibly stolen and used during several auto burglaries in eastern St. Bernard Parish the morning of Oct. 12, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The 4-wheeler, which was damaged, was found on the lawn of residents on Bayou Road after several vehicle burglaries were committed in the area before 1 a.m.

Pohlmann said anyone with information about the recovered 4-wheeler or the burglaries should call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.

One burglary victim, who had two vehicles ransacked at her home on Bayou Road, reported seeing five suspects run from her yard and flee on two 4-wheelers, going eastbound on Bayou Road, Pohlmann said.

Another witness said that while sheriff’s deputies were looking for the subjects he was standing in front of his home on Bayou Road when a young man on a green 4-wheeler passed, going about 50 in the dark.

A green and black Kawasaki 650 4-wheel all-terrain vehicle was later recovered on a lawn in the area. But the Sheriff’s Office hasn’t identified the owner of the ATV, which hasn’t been reported stolen, Pohlmann said. The only I.D. markings were traced to a former owner who sold it years ago and didn’t recall to whom he sold it.

In an unrelated matter, two Slidell men were booked with felony theft, criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing on Oct. 7 when they were caught with power tools and were loading a pickup truck with metal from a shed at an abandoned house in eastern St. Bernard, Pohlmann said.

Arrested were Daniel Lion, 37, and Leon M. Zanco, 41. Both are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds of $12,000 each.

A witness reported hearing banging sounds and seeing two men with tools and removing metal off a shed, Pohlmann said. Sheriff’s deputies caught them at the site as they loaded metal stolen off the shed asnd in possession of numerous tools.

Pohlmann commended the resident who witnessed the acts for taking the time to call the Sheriff’s Office about suspicious activity, saying such timely calls to (504) 271-2501 will bring deputies in a hurry and result in arrests.

CChildren play in a bounce area outside the church. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO

Oct. 12, 2011- Before Hurricane Katrina, Carol and Al Beaubouef, who live in the Lexington Place subdivion in Meraux, annually held gatherings at their home for neighbors to celebrate National Night Out Against Crime.

But Tuesday night, Oct. 11 was the first time they hosted another one since the storm, inviting people to their Marquez Drive home.

Carol Beaubouef, who has lived in Lexington Place since 1980, said she and her husband decided it was time to get back into the Night Out Against Crime event as a way to make sure neighbors talked “and get to know one another.’’

“I believe in this neighborhood and community and I want I it to be safe,’’ she said. If people talk, Mrs. Beaubouef said, it’s easier to know who should be in the area and neighbors can tell if something they see seems out of place or might be suspicious.

Across St. Bernard Parish, hundreds of people gathered at numerous parties for the National Night Out Against Crime. Sheriff’s deputies attended each event to give crime prevention tips and answer questions.

The training session, held at Nunez College, is equipped with a giant screen to show films.

Also, it was the first time since the Night Out event was moved to the second Tuesday in October in hopes of cooler weather than in previous years when the event was in early August. Many people said the move was a good idea, based on the nice weather.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, attending many gatherings, said at one, “I feel we are winning the fight against crime’’ in St. Bernard, evidenced by extremely low numbers of violent incidents – especially random incidents involving people who don’t know one another.

Several people clapped at another event when Pohlmann said, “We have a great, safe community. We’ve gone 2 1/1 years since a murder.’’ Emphasis on combating drugs is a reason “you don’t see the same level of violence here there is in other places, he said.

Drug arrests mean criminals aren’t on the streets to commit burglaries and thefts to get money, Pohlmann said, adding if you put a dent in the drug trade you stop property crimes as well.

“Drug dealers need to go to jail. Users need help,’’ Pohlmann said.

He also encouraged people to always call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhoods.

It was the fifth year since the hurricane that the Sheriff’s Office has participated in the national National Night Out Against Crime celebration.

Large parties were held in some locations, such as at the Pentecostal Church in Chalmette, where Pastor Otto Martin said members of the church and neighbors responded to a call to come out and hear about crime prevention efforts and get to know each other.

There were also large gatherings on Palmisano Boulevard in Chalmette, Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux, at Nunez Community College, on St. Matthew Circle and Centanni Drive in eastern St. Bernard and other areas well.

Capt. Charles Borchers, crime prevention director for the Sheriff’s Office and head of the Neighborhood Watch program, said the parish continues to see residents having parties for the Night Out Against Crime.

“People are focusing on neighborhood safety,’’ Borchers said. “We at the Sheriff’s Office want to work hand-in-hand with the people and we think participation by the public in such things as National Night Out Against Crime, Neighborhood Watch and the Citizens Police Academy offered by the Sheriff’s Office is a show of their support to work with us.’’

St. Bernard residents should call Borchers at (504) 278-7628 if interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group in their area, or signing up for the next free sesions of the Refuse to be a Victim series and the Citizens Police Academy given by the Sheriff’s Office. Borchers also can give tips about holiday shopping safety.

Cecilia Galladora of Chalmette also prepares to use a weapon if necessary. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO

Oct. 7, 2011- None of them are sheriff’s deputies and don’t want to be but they had real enough-looking weapons in their hands.

And when computerized scenarios of situations a real officer might face blared on a screen they had to make a split-second decision: shoot a criminal suspect or hold their fire - the same as an actual officer might have to make.

“It was a blast,’’ said Joel Deutser of Violet, one of about 40 St. Bernard Parish residents who were introduced to a firearms simulator - used for actual police training – the night of Wednesday, Oct. 5. It was part of the latest class of the Sheriff’s Office Police Citizens Academy, being conducted until early November.

Deutser said he took the free academy course, taught by Director of Crime Prevention Capt. Charles Borchers, because, “I wanted to see what law enforcement goes through.’’ He said the firearms simulator was one of his favorite parts of the class.

Borrowed from the state Attorney General’s Office, the computerized virtual training simulator uses computerized scenarios of situations an officer might including whether to shoot a suspect.

The training session, held at Nunez College, is equipped with a giant screen to show films.

“This gives participants a real fee for police work,’’ Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “This lets residents see what officers have to deal with and the decisions they may have to make.’’

Each year it’s a popular part of the Citizens Police Academy class which is designed to foster better relations between the community and the Sheriff’s Office.’

Cecilia Galladora of Chalmette, another member of the class, said, “I love it. I’m learning a lot. It’s about real things.’’

Others said they would encourage St. Bernard needs residents to take the course to learn more about what law enforcement entails in the parish and as a good way to ask questions on topics.

The simulator is loaned out around the state to various law enforcement agencies for police officer training in which they can view and react to various computerized scenarios shown on a large screen, such as: being called to a domestic disturbance or a man in a bar who is causing trouble or a traffic stop where a young girl pulls a shotgun and fires when she sees her father might be arrested.

“This is about as realistic as we can make it for you,’’ Maj. David DiMaggio, head of training for the Sheriff’s Office said while explaining the simulator and showing class members how to use the weapon involved.

Anyone interested in taking the free Citizens Police Academy course the next time it is offered should contact Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.

Oct 5, 2011 -A $5 million Sheriff’s Annex administration building is about to open at its old location behind the Parish Courthouse, with ribbon-cutting ceremonies set for Friday, Oct. 14. The work, funded by FEMA and some insurance proceeds, began in April 2010 after demolition of the original two-story Katrina-damaged Annex, which dated to 1963 and housed the old Police Jury government until the late 1970s when the Sheriff’s Office functions moved there.

The new building has two stories of office space and is elevated off the ground. Shown is the front of the building which faces Pakenham Drive. Also, Parish Prison work crews have been sodding the grounds around the Annex and working on landscaping for the building. Sheriff’s Dep. James Harper supervises one inmate crew as it lays in grass and Harper and Sheriff’s Dep. Brian Cadzow shovel mud with prisoners for landscaping purposes. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.