Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Sept. 27, 2001

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

Shreveport Police Department announces drug hotline

Shreveport residents who know of drug problems in their neighborhoods have a new, anonymous way to tell the police.

The Shreveport Police Department has launched a drug hotline known as Residents Against Pushers. The number is 673-RAPS, or 673-7277.

The hotline will be staffed by narcotics agents between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. But residents can also leave messages on the hotline at nights and on weekends. If they wish, they can leave their name and a phone number where they can be reached, and an agent will contact them the next business day.

Callers are asked to give details of the type of activity that is occurring, when it is occurring, the names, nicknames or descriptions of people involved and a description of any vehicles that may be involved.

"Drugs can cause major problems in any community. It not only affects peoples’ health, but its addictions can cause people to commit violent crimes to fund their next fix," said Chief of Police Jim Roberts. "We hope people will use this hotline to report drug activity. Working together is the best way the police and the citizens can rid their communities of drugs."

In 2000, police arrested 1,358 adults and 112 juveniles for narcotics offenses. That number includes 288 people who were arrested for selling or manufacturing drugs. Many of those arrests came from tips or complaints by citizens regarding drugs in their neighborhoods. By getting such complaints, police were able to investigate them and arrest the offenders.

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Media: For more information about this hotline, or for interviews, call Lt. Steve Floyd at 673-7040.