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SBSO BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SPECIAL OPERATIONS BUILDING
The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office held a groundbreaking ceremony March 25 to mark the start of construction on its new Special Operations Division building in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Located behind the SBSO Field Operations Bureau on Paris Road on land generously donated by the Meraux Foundation, Sheriff Pohlmann said the new 19,200 square-foot facility will serve as a critical hub for the Sheriff’s Office, housing essential equipment such as the Mobile Command Post, boats, light plants, and other specialized vehicles.
The building will also function as an area of last refuge for deputies during major incidents like hurricanes, with future plans including the addition of a tactical training area for deputies and dedicated office space.
Sheriff Pohlmann said the new facility will greatly enhance the department’s ability to serve the community.
“This new Special Operations Division building is an investment in the safety and preparedness of our parish,” the Sheriff said. “This is another step in ensuring we have the best tools available to protect and serve.”
The total cost of the project, including design and construction, is $3.7 million, funded in part by a state capital outlay project grant totaling $2.5 million, with the remainder covered by the Sheriff’s Office general fund. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
“I want to thank our state delegation for their support in helping us secure this important grant,” the Sheriff said. “Their commitment to our community allows us to continue enhancing public safety for the people of St. Bernard Parish.”
Col. Robert Norton, commander of the Special Operations Division, oversees specialized units including the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) team and the Training and Marine Divisions, which will utilize the space.
“This facility will significantly enhance our ability to respond to high-risk incidents and emergency situations in an even more effective manner,” Col. Norton said. “Having a dedicated space to house our specialized equipment and train our personnel ensures we can always be ready for major occurrences.”
With the addition of the new Special Operations Division building, Sheriff Pohlmann said the Sheriff’s Office continues to modernize its facilities to better serve and protect the residents of St. Bernard Parish.
Under Sheriff Pohlmann’s leadership, the Sheriff’s Office has prioritized the construction of several modern, strategically located facilities to enhance law enforcement capabilities since he was first elected in 2011.
⭐The 5,000 square-foot Paris Road and Judge Perez Drive substations, which opened in July and August 2015 respectively, were two of three new Sheriff’s Office buildings constructed since Hurricane Katrina using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds.
⭐The Judge Perez substation, 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, houses the Special Investigations Division, which includes the Narcotics Division, K-9 Unit, and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.
⭐The Paris Road substation, 4700 Paris Road in Chalmette, serves as the Field Operations Bureau, which includes the Patrol, Traffic and Motorcycle Divisions, and operates 24/7 year-round.
⭐The Criminal Investigations Bureau, 6501 St. Claude Avenue in Arabi, opened in December 2014, and is home to detectives who investigate major crimes like homicides, thefts, sex crimes, juvenile-related incidents, and financial crimes, as well as the crime scene investigations.
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