Shreveport Police Department

PO Box P · Shreveport, LA 71161 · 318/673-6933 · Fax: 318/673-6914

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Jan. 10, 2000

Contact: Cindy Chadwick

318/673-6932

Crime drops again in Shreveport

Reports of criminal activity in Shreveport have dropped for the third straight year, according to statistics released today by the Police Department.

Shreveport Police Chief Jim Roberts said the greatest decrease was in violent crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and battery) which dropped nine percent. There were 1,973 violent crimes reported last year compared to 2,169 the year before. Property crimes saw a slight decrease -16,332 offenses in 1999 compared to 16,409 in 1998. All total, by year's end, city police had recorded 18,305 criminal offenses compared to 18,578 in 1998, for a one percent reduction in crime.

"Total crime in 1999 is a mirror image of the numbers that were reported years ago in the early `80s," Roberts said. "Our officers have worked hard to do their part to help drive the numbers back down."

Roberts said all major crime categories reported decreases in activity. Statistics revealed the number of homicides dropped three percent; rapes decreased 10 percent; aggravated assault and batteries dropped 10 percent; burglaries were down four percent; thefts went down one percent; and auto thefts dropped five percent.

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Page 2 - Annual Stats

"Our goal for 2000 is to continue reducing crime and the fear of crime by identifying and addressing neighborhood problems and crime trends," he added. "And we're even more committed to community policing, which is among our priorities for new officers as they continue their training on the streets."

Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower echoed Roberts' thoughts on crime fighting and community policing. "Crime fighting will continue to be a major focus as we push for the equipment and training our officers deserve to do the best jobs they possibly can," Hightower said. "If you think about it, police men and women are the best economic development directors we have. They work to keep the crime rate down, which benefits businesses and residents and encourages other local development.

"I would also ask citizens to continue to help our officers," the Mayor continued. "Many sets of eyes watching over our neighborhoods will always be more effective than just one set."

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