(The Center Square) – Shreveport lawmakers and the city’s chief law enforcement officer expressed concern over the high volume of domestic violence calls, while acknowledging that an understaffed police force has limited the department’s ability to carry out prevention strategies.
“It’s a growing concern,” Chief Wayne Smith said Tuesday. “Last year about 20-plus percent of the city’s 42 homicides were coded domestic violence.”
Smith’s comments came during his regular presentation to the Shreveport City Council. He reported that year-to-date statistics for sex crimes, shootings, vehicle thefts, and burglaries were lower, while armed robberies have increased.
At this point last year, there were seven homicides compared with only two so far this year. On a per capita basis, Shreveport’s homicide rate of 23 murders per 100,000 people ranks sixth compared to Jackson, Baton Rouge, Little Rock, New Orleans, Birmingham, Memphis and Dallas.
In 2025, the department responded to nearly 3,000 calls related to domestic violence. To address this, Smith plans to increase efforts to connect victims with support resources provided by city and parish organizations.
“When you’re short (officers) like we all know that we are, it’s hard, I would assume, for your officers to be able to sit and take the time for hours to discuss options,” said Grayson Boucher, District D council member.
The city’s police force is operating at about 74% of full capacity. Fully staffed would be 581 officers; it currently has approximately 430, according to city documents.
One answer, according to Smith, is to increase the number of advocates who can guide victims toward available resources. He also wants officers to carry informative pamphlets in their vehicles because most victims don’t know what’s available to them.
The legal process can be “confusing” and “discouraging,” Smith said. “Our future plan is … to help them to fill out the paperwork necessary to get a restraining order or to separate themselves from the violent offender.”
Smith also highlighted the high number of pedestrian fatalities. Last year, 16 people died on the roadways, most of them at night in poorly lit areas, often wearing dark clothing.
“I have never seen the amount of pedestrians being so high,” he said, adding that installing additional lighting in certain areas would likely help reduce that figure.
