Just last week a unanimous Shreveport City Council called on the mayor to declare a state of emergency because of the latest surge of violent crime. But when asked if such a designation might be necessary to free up state or federal dollars, for example, that was not the case. Nor is there anything new being offered with the declaration. The declaration, several sources confirm, is largely symbolic.
What they do have, according to Councilman Grayson Buecher is a strong desire to raise expectations by showing what works and what doesn’t, to curb violent crime in Shreveport. “It’s kind of hard to Monday morning quarterback the police chief because I’m not a policeman, you know. “I’m not the CAO of the city of Shreveport when it comes to budgetary stuff,” as Boucher elaborated, “so, it’s real hard for us to Monday morning quarterback him. However, we want them to know that we’re watching them and if things don’t get better then maybe we need new leadership.” So, Boucher and others believe any new strategy or new tools in Shreveport’s crime fighting efforts must come with more accountability for results.
Just last week Mayor Tom Arceneaux released a long list of operational and multi-jurisdictional programs that are already underway; not to mention the fusion of hi-tech tools in the fight against crime from drones to license plate readers. So, behind the scenes you’ll hear a lot of talk about the growing impatience – from citizens and city officials alike -- to get out there and make a difference. Boucher says as much about his own hopes. My prayer is that, know, 12 months from now you’ll be talking to me, and our murder rate is down by half. Or our murder rate is down 75 percent. That’s what my prayer is. So, you know, because every murder in the city of Shreveport, every violent crime in the city of Shreveport, impacts all seven of us on the city council.” Shreveport homicides this year have already surpassed 70.
Just last week a unanimous Shreveport City Council called on the mayor to declare a state of emergency because of the latest surge of violent crime. But when asked if such a designation might be necessary to free up state or federal dollars, for example. But that was not the case. Nor is there anything new being offered with the declaration. The declaration, several sources confirm, was largely symbolic.
What they do have, according to Councilman Grayson Buecher is a strong desire to raise expectations by showing what works and what doesn’t to curb violent crime in Shreveport. “It’s kind of hard to Monday morning quarterback the police chief because I’m not a policeman, you know. “I’m not the CAO of the city of Shreveport when it comes to budgetary stuff,” as Boucher elaborated, “so, it’s real hard for us to Monday morning quarterback him. However, we want them to know that we’re watching them and if things don’t get better then maybe we need new leadership.” So, Boucher and others believe any new strategy or new tools in Shreveport’s crime fighting efforts must come with more accountability for results.
Just last week Mayor Tom Arceneaux released a long list of operational and multi-jurisdictional programs that are already underway; not to mention the fusion of hi-tech tools in the fight against crime from drones to license plate readers. So, behind the scenes you’ll hear a lot of talk about the growing impatience – from citizens and city officials alike -- to get out there and make a difference. Boucher says as much about his own hopes. My prayer is that, you know, 12 months from now you’ll be talking to me, and our murder rate is down by half. Or our murder rate is down 75 percent. That’s what my prayer is. So, you know, because every murder in the city of Shreveport, every violent crime in the city of Shreveport, impacts all seven of us on the city council.” Shreveport homicides this year have already surpassed 70, far outpacing the 2022 total of 49 homicides.
