PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer donates to $75,000 to APSO

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office received a sizable donation of $75,000 from PCS Nitrogen on January 7 to assist in funding an upgrade and expansion of the remote video system used by the Sheriff’s Office to monitor activity in selected locations in the Parish.

“I was overwhelmed by the generosity of this flagship Ascension Parish Corporation and all the people of Ascension Parish should join me and thanking PCS for a donation which will make our Parish a safer and secure place to work and live,” Sheriff Jeff Wiley said.

According to Sheriff Wiley, the Sheriff’s Office currently has remote cameras to monitor traffic on Airline Highway, Hwy 73, Hwy 30, and I-10 and, according to Wiley, “these cameras have proven to be extremely useful during hurricane evacuations when real-time information is critical to keeping vehicles moving quickly and safely through the Parish.”

Other cameras, according to Sheriff Wiley, are set up to monitor the industrial corridor and he indicated that they have been instrumental in command and control decision making when major incidents have occurred which required emergency response to specific incidents.  Having these cameras in place, “allowed us to more safely respond to the incidents and determine what resources and actions need to take place,” added Sheriff Wiley.

Still other cameras are set up for security purposes at Sheriff’s Office facilities such as the two courthouses and the parish jail.  “Obviously it is important to be able to view what is going on at these places where the opportunity for security concerns is high.”

Sheriff Wiley said that the value of remote cameras has proven to be of great value and that his Department recently began to pursue plans to expand the system.  “We recognize the immense value that remote video systems offer in the furtherance of enhancing our ability to provide for the safety and security of the people of Ascension Parish and expansion of our system is a natural evolution.”

The next phase of his plan to expand remote video coverage in Ascension Parish will include more cameras being placed on major thoroughfares and in the industrial corridor and also includes plans to purchase deployable cameras for crime prevention and detection.

Sheriff Wiley indicated that the cost of the planned video system upgrade and expansion is expected to cost between $75,000 and $100,000 and that in a recent conversation with PCS Nitrogen administrators, they showed great interest in making a donation to the Sheriff’s Office to assist in the project .

As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global population rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have.

According to PCS Human Resources Specialist Misty Bonfanti, PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, L.P. (PotashCorp Geismar) produces nitrogen and phosphate products for fertilizers and industrial uses.  Our facility has been in operation since 1964 and we are a proud member of the Geismar region contributing locally through employment, purchasing and community investments.