(The Center Square) — The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office released year-to-date reported crime statistics, showing a decrease in offenses compared to this time last year, despite an increase in call volume.
A recent public records request showed an increase in property crime calls and person crime calls for the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. However, year-to-date reports for April released by the office showed that total reported offenses have decreased. Last year, the office reported 332 offenses. This year, that number has dropped to 320.
The Center Square spoke to Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington and Lt. Neil Johnston in Public Relations to discuss the difference in call volume related to reported offenses.
“A lot of calls that come in don’t end up being, at the end of the process, what the call that came in to dispatch is,” Whittington said. “As a call comes into dispatch, and they start the process, quite often it ends up being something, sometimes more serious, most of the time less.”
According to the report, there have been no reported homicides, robberies or aggravated burglary this year in Bossier Parish. Rape offenses are also on the decline with 15 reported offenses as of April. This is one less than last year’s year-to-date report.
While rape offenses show a 6% decrease, overall reported violent crime has increased by 3% due to a slight increase in simple assault, intimidation, and aggravated assault offenses.
Simple assault shows a 2% increase from last year with 141 offenses. Intimidation shows an 11% increase, with 10 this year. Aggravated assault shows a 9% increase from last year, with 37 total offenses reported year-to-date.
Despite an increase in violent crime, the parish is seeing a decline of 13% in property crime offenses. A recent report said the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office received 921 property crime calls so far this year. While the call volume for property crime calls has increased, the property crime index is decreasing.
According to Whittington, storm damage can come in as a property crime call which can increase that call volume.
“We’ve got a lot of storms, and then we do reports on storm damage. That’s property damage, but that’s not a crime,” said Whittington.
The parish reported 17 burglary offenses, which is a 29% decrease from last year’s reported 24. There have been no reported purse snatching offenses in 2024 and 2025. Shoplifting offenses have remained the same year-to-date versus last year, with three reported. General theft has decreased from 81 offenses last year to 77 so far this year. Auto theft is also on the decline, with only five reported this year, compared to 14 last year.
The two property crime categories that show an increase are theft from auto and unauthorized use. Theft from auto offenses is up 11%, and unauthorized use offenses are up 25%. This crime still sits relatively low despite an increase, with 10 theft from auto offenses reported and five unauthorized use offenses reported.
Overall, the office has seen a 4% decrease in reported offenses since last year.
“We have good news and we want to report it,” said Whittington.
