St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Dep. Judy Bonicard
receives Kiwanis Club Life Saver Award
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Dep. Judy Bonicard received the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi Life Saver Award at a banquet hosted by Kiwanis on July 16 at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Dep. Bonicard, a 15-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office who works in the Corrections Division at St. Bernard Parish Prison, was honored for her efforts to save the life of a patron at a local business in April, 2019.
On April 14, Sheriff Pohlmann said, Dep. Bonicard was working an off-duty, paid detail at a business in Meraux when she observed an adult female fall from her chair and become unresponsive.
The female was not breathing, but had a faint pulse so Dep. Bonicard immediately started performing CPR and continued until Acadian Ambulance paramedics arrived on the scene. The female was transported to a local hospital after suffering what appeared to be a seizure.
Although the female did not survive, Dep. Bonicard’s actions helped her have a chance at recovery.
Col. Kevin Sensebe, warden of St. Bernard Parish Prison and Dep. Bonicard’s supervisor, said he is not surprised by his deputy’s actions.
“In the 15 years I have known Dep. Bonicard, she has exemplified what a caring, dedicated professional she is as a deputy of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office,” Col. Sensebe said. “She comes to work ready to handle anything with a helping hand and genuine concern for everyone.”
Dep. Bonicard feels humbled to receive such an award.
“Being honored with this award shows that I made a difference by helping someone at a critical time,” Dep. Bonicard said. “What I like most about being a deputy is serving and protecting the citizens of St. Bernard Parish.”
Kiwanis Life Saver Committee Chairman Sam Catalanotto said the Kiwanis Club started presenting these awards more than a decade ago as a way to recognize first-responders in the parish for the work they do to protect the public. The award is presented quarterly to parish first responders chosen by the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department, he said.
“They are the first people through the door, and usually the last ones out, in an emergency, putting their lives on the line everyday,” Catalanotto said.
Anyone interested in joining the St. Bernard/Arabi Kiwanis Club community service organization is welcome to attend one of its luncheons each Tuesday at noon in the Rocky and Carlo’s Sicilian Room, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. For more information, call Robby Showalter at (504) 616-7312.
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