Captain
Dickie Jenkins
Division
Commander
P O Box
1120
Covington, Louisiana 70434
(985) 898-2323
St.
Tammany Parish has more navigable waterways than any other
Louisiana parish. The Special Operations Division (SOD) consists
of a large fleet of boats that are spread throughout the parish
to provide quick response. In addition, the SOD has a fleet
of several personal watercraft (Jet Ski, Sea-Doo). These are
used for routine patrol on St. Tammany's recreational waterways,
such as rivers and bayous. Deputies working in SOD have received
specialized training in water rescues and special tactics
to be used in watercraft. Deputies work closely with the United
States Coast Guard and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to ensure safety on the water. Deputies are subject to call
out 24 hours a day/7 days a week for emergencies such as lost
boaters, disabled vessels, and accidents.
In
addition to the deputies working on watercraft, the Sheriff's
Office has a highly trained Dive Team. The team trains monthly
and is also subject to call out for emergencies. The team
has proven to be a valuable asset as they have provided assistance
with vehicle accidents on bridges, boat accidents, and the
recovery of items lost in the water such as evidence from
crime scenes.
The SOD Reserve Division consists of over 50 deputies. These
deputies receive the same training as full-time deputies.
The only difference between full-time and reserve deputies
is that reserves are volunteers. This group of highly dedicated
people donates their time and talents to community. Besides
their training from the Sheriff's Office, many of the reserves
have special skills from their full-time jobs which assist
the Sheriff's Office in its operation such as being doctors,
paramedics, firemen and lawyers. Two of the SOD reserves currently
serve on the SWAT team as paramedics. The SOD reserve division
has an mounted patrol division which functions at festivals,
parades, and shopping centers during holiday seasons. In addition,
the division has acquired equipment and training to form a
bicycle unit to be used at festivals, neighborhoods, and high-volume
shopping areas.
From
training dogs to controlling the animal population, the SOD
division plays a major role in the community. Deputies have
dogs that are trained in finding lost people in wooded areas
as well as the ability to locate bodies and items in rivers
and lakes. The Animal Control Division consists of four full-time
deputies who have received specialized training to capture
stray animals. These deputies work closely with the St. Tammany
Parish Animal Shelter to ensure safety for all citizens from
vicious animals and loose livestock. To contact Animal Control,
call the shelter at 809-0183.
In March
1998, the Sheriff's Office acquired a full-size mobile command
center at a cost of approximately $250,000. The vehicle is
equipped with seven radio dispatch stations multiple phone
jacks, a fax machine, a computer, a mini-kitchen, a bathroom,
rising exterior lights on the roof, side lighting equipment,
and cell and radio boosters. The unit is used at crime scenes,
haz-mat incidents, searches which may last several hours/days,
and any other emergency situation where the mobile command
center would be helpful. When the command center is not being
used for an emergency, it is stationed in shopping centers
during the holiday season, school zones to encourage obedience
to traffic laws, subdivisions to increase visibility, and
high crime areas as a substation for deputies. If you'd like
the command center at an event, please contact Joy Way at
985-871-2105.
St.
Tammany Parish has more navigable waterways than any other
Louisiana parish. The Special Operations Division (SOD) consists
of a large fleet of boats that are spread throughout the parish
to provide quick response. In addition, the SOD has a fleet
of several personal watercraft (Jet Ski, Sea-Doo). These are
used for routine patrol on St. Tammany's recreational waterways,
such as rivers and bayous. Deputies working in SOD have received
specialized training in water rescues and special tactics
to be used in watercraft. Deputies work closely with the United
States Coast Guard and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to ensure safety on the water. Deputies are subject to call
out 24 hours a day/7 days a week for emergencies such as lost
boaters, disabled vessels, and accidents. 
In
addition to the deputies working on watercraft, the Sheriff's
Office has a highly trained Dive Team. The team trains monthly
and is also subject to call out for emergencies. The team
has proven to be a valuable asset as they have provided assistance
with vehicle accidents on bridges, boat accidents, and the
recovery of items lost in the water such as evidence from
crime scenes.
The SOD Reserve Division consists of over 50 deputies. These
deputies receive the same training as full-time deputies.
The only difference between full-time and reserve deputies
is that reserves are volunteers. This group of highly dedicated
people donates their time and talents to community. Besides
their training from the Sheriff's Office, many of the reserves
have special skills from their full-time jobs which assist
the Sheriff's Office in its operation such as being doctors,
paramedics, firemen and lawyers. Two of the SOD reserves currently
serve on the SWAT team as paramedics. The SOD reserve division
has an mounted patrol division which functions at festivals,
parades, and shopping centers during holiday seasons. In addition,
the division has acquired equipment and training to form a
bicycle unit to be used at festivals, neighborhoods, and high-volume
shopping areas.
From
training dogs to controlling the animal population, the SOD
division plays a major role in the community. Deputies have
dogs that are trained in finding lost people in wooded areas
as well as the ability to locate bodies and items in rivers
and lakes. The Animal Control Division consists of four full-time
deputies who have received specialized training to capture
stray animals. These deputies work closely with the St. Tammany
Parish Animal Shelter to ensure safety for all citizens from
vicious animals and loose livestock. To contact Animal Control,
call the shelter at 809-0183.