In a commendable act of bravery, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Dep. Gabriel “Trip” Roques III, was awarded the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard Sammie Catalanotto LifeSaver Award. This recognition comes as a result of Roques's quick response to a medical emergency while off duty, which helped save a man's life. The award was presented on Tuesday, as reported by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
On the morning of Sept. 25, 2025, while at Joseph Bartholomew Golf Course, Roques sprang into action upon hearing distress calls from a nearby hole. Finding an unconscious man who had collapsed, he initiated CPR and applied an AED until EMS personnel arrived. Although the man later succumbed to preexisting medical complications, Roques's intervention gave him a fighting chance, explained the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. "My years of training just kicked in," Roques said, "I didn’t stop to think - I just reacted the way we’re trained to."
According to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, James Pohlmann and Capt. Leander Morgan, Roques's supervisor, both offered high praise for his lifesaving instincts. "Dep. Roques was off duty that day, but our deputies are never truly off duty because it is something that is just inside them," said Sheriff Pohlmann, recognizing the inherent sense of duty that spurred Roques to act, "His quick thinking reflects exactly what it means to serve others. We are extremely proud of him."
With a seasoned career spanning 17 years, Roques’s experience includes time with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in various divisions before returning to St. Bernard's in May 2023, where he serves in the Field Operations Bureau’s Patrol Division and is part of the S.W.A.T. and Motorcycle Divisions. Reflecting on receiving the LifeSaver Award, Roques expressed a humble attitude by saying, "I’m truly humbled by this recognition. I don’t see what I did as extraordinary - I just did what I was trained to do," according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. His sentiment reveals a dedication to service that resonates beyond the accolades.
While an award ceremony at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant marked formal recognition, it's clear that for Dep. Gabriel “Trip” Roques III, serving his community, is all in a day's work—whether on shift or not. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the impact first responders can have, even when they are not on the clock.
