Shreveport Police Department

PO Box P · Shreveport, LA 71161 · 318/673-6932 · Fax: 318/673-6933

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

PRESS CONFERENCE NOTICE

Date: Aug. 30, 2000

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

318/673-6932

Police Pastor Program to kick off Thursday

A new batch of officers will soon be going to work with the Shreveport Police Department. But instead of carrying handguns for weapons, they'll be brandishing Bibles.

A news conference will be held Thursday, Aug. 31, to kick off the new Police Pastor Program -- a community policing tool being implemented by the Shreveport Police Department. It features pastors of local churches riding patrol with police officers in the areas where the pastors' churches are located.

The news conference will take place at 2 p.m. at the Shreveport Police Department's Training Academy, 6440 Greenwood Road, following a four-hour pastor training session that begins at 10 a.m. at the Police Academy.

Anyone needing video or photos of the 20 or so pastors in training can do so at 1:30 p.m., preceding the kickoff. At the kickoff, pastors will receive their badges, and Police Chief Jim Roberts will discuss the program. Afterward, pastor Calvin Kimble of Lone Star Baptist Church - supervisor of the Police Pastor Program - will be picked up by Cpl. Joey Hester and perform the first Police Pastor patrol.

Pastors and police officers will be available for interviews. Anyone with questions about this innovative outreach program can call Sgt. Wendell Delaney at 673-6950 or Kacee Hargrave at 673-6932.

- spd -