CHALMETTE, La. — St. Bernard Parish has a new sheriff, at least for now. Richard Baumy, who served the last 14 years as chief deputy, took the oath as interim sheriff in Chalmette, Louisiana, on Sunday, Nov. 1, succeeding Sheriff James Pohlmann, who is retiring partway through his fourth term.
Judge Eric Bopp administered the oath. John Doran was sworn in alongside Baumy as the new chief deputy; Doran has been with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office since 1986, a span of 40 years.
Baumy’s career stretches back decades. He worked for the New Orleans Police Department for 19 years, leaving in 1984 as deputy commander of its homicide unit, and then moved to the parish sheriff’s office that same year as its patrol commander. He has now been with the parish agency for 42 years.
Louisiana law puts a sheriff’s chief criminal deputy in charge when the office comes open, until voters pick a replacement. Pohlmann, 62, announced on Oct. 19 that he would step down with 20 months left in his term, saying he had maxed out his pension.
Voters will get their say next spring. The St. Bernard Parish Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution setting a special election for April 17, 2027, with a general election on May 29, 2027, if one is needed. Whoever wins will serve the rest of the term, through June 30, 2028.
Baumy has said he will not run for the seat, so the interim sheriff is expected to hand the office to someone else once the special election is decided. Pohlmann has said he hopes voters choose someone from inside the department, and he plans to take on consulting work in policing and media relations.
Section: More New Orleans LA crime news
Filed under: New Orleans LA Public Safety News
