(The Center Square) — Shreveport is experiencing a rise in shootings, according to recent reports from the Shreveport Police Department, which is prompting the City Council and the department to consider more surveillance.
Most of the shootings happening, according to Deputy Chief Antwoine White, are acts of retaliation among people who know one another. Because of this, both the council and deputy chief confirm that a specific location or place cannot be blamed for the violence.
“We can’t have more killings on Main Street,” said bar owner Tim Huck. “Every one of these killings could have been prevented… I keep hearing so many times them telling me, ‘We don’t have enough police officers to do this job. We don’t have enough police officers to enforce the law.’ Guys, we don’t have enough police officers to not enforce the law.”
There are three surveillance trailers in the city to monitor crime. One of the council members raised concerns about the location of the North Market trailer and wondered whether it would be more effective to move the trailer in front of the Psychic Corner or the empty lot next to the Texas Street bridge. According to council members, it would serve best in heavily trafficked areas on the weekends.
“We have limited resources… We have to use them in the most efficient way possible,” said White. “When you speak of the 200 block of Texas. There are cameras there being monitored by the real-time crime center. We try to place those cameras in areas where we don’t have coverage.”
This location is an entry and exit point for residents interested in being downtown. While the Shreveport Police Department isn’t having issues with response times, they aim to be more visible before the crime actually happens.
Another surveillance trailer is at Ford Park, where the cruising issues are ongoing. There is also one at a temporary substation on North Market that citizens can use as a safe zone if they need a safe meeting place to exchange children for custody purposes or a meeting place where they can safely buy something from another person, for example.
White confirmed one of the trailers could be placed downtown on the weekends.
The trailers cost anywhere from $37,000 to $40,000 compared to other camera systems the department uses, costing roughly $3,500. The money used for these things comes from the public safety fund.
While the trailers are costly, Councilwoman Ursula Bowman reminded everyone that summertime is approaching, which means more festivals and an increase in needed surveillance. She thinks they should get a few more trailers to increase surveillance in the high capacity areas.
The council also expressed concerns over the increase in domestic violence happening in the city, noting four of five just in the last two weeks. The council plans to discuss matters with their domestic violence partners while also doing some public service announcements about staying in abusive relationships.
The department is forming a multijurisdictional operation to address these issues, which includes partners, various stakeholders, juvenile probation, the U.S. Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s office, and others.
“That less than 5% that’s terrorizing our city, we just want them to know we’re coming,” said Deputy Chief White.
