COLONEL JOHN DORAN

Criminal Investigations Division Responsibilities

Detective Division

The Detective Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office investigates all major felonies against persons and property and is responsible for follow-up investigations on open cases initially handled by patrol deputies.

The Detective Bureau is also responsible for crime scene investigations, which includes preserving the scene with minimal contamination and disturbance of physical evidence, as well as collection of evidence. It entails identifying valuable and/or fragile evidence and documenting it by photography and possibly video recording. Afterward, all physical evidence at the crime scene is collected, stored and logged into the Criminal Records Division and may be sent to the State Police crime lab for further testing.

Col. John Doran, a St. Bernarrd Parish native who is Chief of Detectives and a 23-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, has been commander of the Detective Bureau since 2003.

He is a former patrol deputy and sheriff’s detective, former commander of the Special Investigations Division including the Narcotics Unit and the Street Crimes Unit, as well as a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a member of the International Homicide Investigation Association.

Major Darlene Poche

The Juvenile Detective Division of the Sheriff's Office investigates all complaints, including criminal allegations, involving juvenile victims or perpetrators.Maj. Darlene Poche, a 23-year veteran of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and native of the parish, has commanded the Juvenile Division since 2003.  She is a former patrol deputy, assistant warden of St. Bernard Parish Prison and former head of the parish’s Juvenile Detention Center.