Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Oct 22, 2008

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Jim Taliaferro, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Original member of V.I.P. Passes away

Ms. Judith Reed, who was one of the original Shreveport Police Department Citizen's Program Unit's VIPs, passed away on Monday in her sleep after a lengthy illness. Judith was a resident of Garden Park Nursing Home for the last two years. Judith had been a volunteer since 1994 and even though she was "physically challenged" and deaf as the result of having Polio as a child, she faithfully rode the city bus to Buckner Square and later to the police department. In addition to being a VIP with the police department, she also attended the Shreveport Fire Citizen's Academy. She prided herself in being punctual and always had a cheerful smile on her face and a warm greeting for all.

Because of her deafness, as she spoke to you she would also "sign" and you would often see her in the company of her faithful hearing assistance dog Jackie, whom I have had for five years. She could always be found making her way throughout the building, slowly but methodically going from one task to another. Even after she was not able to physically come to the department, she always wanted to help in anyway possible and insisted that I bring her envelopes to stuff or programs to fold, to keep her connected to a department she loved so much. Judith was honored twice by the department as Civilian VIP of the Year and loved being a part of this organization where she donated approximately 4 hours each day for well over 12 years. She will be missed.

Visitation will be held at on Wednesday, October 22nd, from 1600 - 1800 hours at Hillcrest, HWY 80, and Haughton, LA. Her funeral will be on Thursday, October 23rd at First Baptist Church in Haughton at 1430 hours with her burial at Hillcrest Cemetery thereafter.

Information can be left with Crime Stoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews