(The Center Square) – Amid conversation of deploying the Louisiana National Guard to Shreveport to help eradicate crime, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux released a statement showing his support for the concern but feels things are moving in the right direction in decreasing city crime.
Recent comments by California Gov. Gavin Newsom directed toward U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., highlighted crime in Louisiana, raising debate about potential National Guard involvement in Shreveport.
Arceneaux released a statement to address this possibility.
“I respect Governor Landry’s concern for public safety across Louisiana, and I appreciate his intention to support the provision of additional resources to fight crime in Shreveport,” said Arceneaux. “While we are committed to solving our challenges locally, and I have full confidence in the ability of our police department to do so, Shreveport remains prepared and focused on the safety and well-being of our residents.”
Gov. Jeff Landry won his seat in the 2023 election.
According to Arceneaux, from efforts by the Shreveport Police Department, homicides are 43% lower than last year.
“That said, any city our size can always use additional resources in the battle against crime,” said Arceneaux. “The question is how, when, and in what form to provide those resources.”
FBI crime statistics showed that violent crime per 100,000 residents in 2024 was higher in Shreveport than in Washington, D.C.
Johnson was asked during an interview with CNN News Central on Aug. 29 about whether the National Guard would be deployed to his area.
“There’s a lot of good work that’s been done,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of reasons for that. But, we have a Democratic DA there who has not been prosecuting crime as some other more aggressive DAs have around the country. Soros funded that individual to be elected. But, I’ll say that, you know, it’s an urban area that has a lot of problems that are happening around the country, and we have to address it.”
The reference to Soros is George Soros, a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist with net worth north of $7 billion.
Throughout the broadcast, residents flooded the comments urging the speaker to deploy the guard to address rising crime throughout all of Louisiana.
“I think the best way to determine how and what resources to provide to Shreveport should be the result of thoughtful discussions among our local, state, and federal officials to look for long-term solutions that include providing additional POST-certified officers, with arrest powers, to Shreveport and other similarly situated communities, as well as state and federal funds to increase police pay,” said Arceneaux in his statement. “I look forward to those discussions.”
POST is an acronym for peace officer standards and training.
Johnson also said that whether the National Guard deploys to Shreveport is ultimately not his call. He suggests the administration take one city at a time.
