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Police report shows year-to-date declines in several violent categories; chief urges residents to report unsanctioned large gatherings
Summary
The police department reported year-to-date declines in homicides, shootings and certain violent crimes, highlighted block-by-block outreach successes, and asked residents to report large unsanctioned gatherings so officers can deploy before incidents escalate; councilmembers requested more visible enforcement in specific downtown areas.
Shreveport’s police leadership told the City Council on Sept. 9 that several major crime indicators are down year-to-date compared with 2024, but they urged community reporting and careful policing at unsanctioned large gatherings after a traumatic weekend of shootings.
The police presentation, delivered to the council by the department’s chief, reported 29 homicides year-to-date (compared with 41 at the same point last year), and reductions in shots-fired calls, shootings where victims were injured, armed robberies and burglaries. The department said vehicle thefts and other categories were roughly flat.
The chief described the block-by-block neighborhood outreach program as a source of intelligence and results: the department cited recent operations that yielded felony and misdemeanor arrests, firearms seizures, recovered stolen vehicles and seizure of suspected drug proceeds—work the chief said was driven by direct conversations with residents.
Council members asked how the department is monitoring large unsanctioned gatherings—several recent shootings occurred at assemblies that were not permitted—and whether officers can disperse crowds when necessary. The chief said organizers should contact the department to coordinate events and that residents should report large informal gatherings so the department can increase presence and reduce risk. He cautioned that enforcement must be consistent with civil‑rights protections and that loitering enforcement requires case-by-case assessment.
Council and staff also discussed pedestrian-involved traffic fatalities—24 so far this year—and police partnerships with traffic-safety programs funded through grants. The department said impaired-driving enforcement remains an active priority and that quarterly special operations are underway with grant support from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
The chief encouraged community participation in Crime Stoppers and said tips remain a critical tool in ongoing investigations. On active violent incidents, the department asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.
