SBSO TO LEAD NEMESIS PARADE, WITH UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND LIVE STREAMING ON YOUTUBE
Thanks to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, parade-goers will have access to parade updates for the Knights of Nemesis’ 2022 Carnival Parade set to roll Saturday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. in Chalmette.
St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said the department’s Mobile Emergency Operations Center will lead the parade, posting regular location updates on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook and Twitter pages along the way. The parade also will be streamed live on the Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel.
A link to the YouTube Channel will be posted on the SBSO Facebook page tomorrow before the start of the parade.
Manned each year by Maj. Angela Huff and Capt. Bret Bowen, the department’s mobile command unit essentially controls the running of the parade by coordinating closures of main cross streets as the parade approaches and making adjustments in the speed of the procession.
Capt. Bowen, who maintains and operates the mobile command unit, said throughout the duration of the parade they communicate with deputies along the route who keep them informed of any circumstances that may affect the parade’s flow, including tractor breakdowns or any other mishaps.
While Capt. Bowen is driving, Maj. Huff will take care of the social media updates, including posting information about delays and photos from along the route. A camera mounted to the mobile command unit will provide the live YouTube streaming.
Capt. Bowen said utilizing the unit and technology helps provide relief for the Sheriff’s Office Radio Room, or 911 Center, during parades.
“The main reason we started this was if you wanted to know where the parade was before you would call the Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “So now, thanks to the use of social media, we can post information on our Facebook and Twitter accounts to help alleviate the number of calls we get that tie up our lines and prevent more important calls from coming through.”
This year’s Nemesis parade, featuring more than 14 floats and 24 several marching units, will follow the traditional route, beginning and ending at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive, with U-turns at the intersections near Dr. Meraux Boulevard and Campagna Drive.
https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1-mxXUTuVRwc6YykHQCnShQd_cPM&hl=en
Capt. Bowen will be retiring soon after 32 years of dedicated service to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and the residents of St. Bernard Parish.
Although this will be Capt. Bowen’s eighth and final year driving the SBSO mobile command post in a Chalmette Carnival parade, he will retire after leading the Irish Italian Islenos Parade on April 2.
If you see Capt. Bowen leading the parade, please be sure to wave and thank him for his service.
