Caddo Parish committee postpones public‑safety funding ordinance after chiefs urge help for small towns

The Caddo Parish Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to postpone consideration of Ordinance 66‑18 — a request for additional public‑safety equipment funding — until its next public safety committee meeting after chiefs and local officials described widespread vehicle and equipment shortfalls.

At public comment, Greenwood Chief Shane Gibson asked the committee to fund a trailer stocked with traffic‑control equipment to allow faster local response to interstate crashes, saying “my trailer and equipment would be about $25,000” to serve Greenwood and parts of Caddo Parish. Dr. Michael Lee Carter, president of the Shreveport Police Officers Association and a captain with the Shreveport Police Department, urged a longer‑term fleet plan, saying the region needs “about 200” patrol cars and that a fully equipped patrol car now costs roughly $67,000–$70,000.

Multiple chiefs from smaller municipalities told the committee they rely on donated vehicles and low‑cost gear that wear out quickly. Jesse Colson, Halston chief, said donated cars often arrive with more than 100,000 miles and lack up‑to‑date equipment, while John McCarty, chief in Mooringsport and Oil City, said some departments do not have reliable body cameras. Shreveport Chief Wayne Smith told commissioners, “As of this morning, I had 67 automobiles that are redlined,” describing hundreds of thousands of miles on many patrol vehicles and listing tactical needs including rifle‑rated body armor and ballistic shields.

Clerk materials accompanying Ordinance 66‑18 included letters from the Shreveport mayor and the Shreveport Police Officers Association, requests from Blanchard, Greenwood, Mooringsport, Fire District 8, Ida, Oil City, Austin and Gilliam, a summary of the requests and a cost‑benefit analysis. Commissioners and staff emphasized the limits of unbudgeted spending and the need to check legal and financial constraints before committing funds.

Counsel (Miss Fraser) advised that postponing the matter indefinitely would effectively terminate the ordinance unless it is put back before the committee; commissioners therefore moved to postpone it to the next public safety committee hearing so staff could develop a more comprehensive, equitable proposal. After debate about fairness across municipalities, the committee voted by roll call: five in favor, none opposed. The motion carried.

The action is procedural: the committee collected testimony, asked staff to consult legal and financial teams, and requested prioritized cost estimates and program design that could be considered at the next meeting. No funding was approved at this session.

Next steps: commissioners asked for a unified list of prioritized needs and cost estimates from requestors and for staff to review grant‑eligibility and legal constraints before the ordinance returns to committee.