Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Jan 30, 2009

Phone: (318) 525-5066 Fax: (318) 673-6933

Contact: Cpl Bill Goodin, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shreveport Police report decrease in calls for service mirrors reduction in Part I crimes

On the heels of reporting 31 year lows in the Violent and Property Crime Indices, the Shreveport Police Department is reporting that the total number of citizen-generated calls for service received in 2008 was down almost 9% when compared to 2007.

Comparisons between calls for service and Part I Crime rates indicate that as calls for service decrease, so do crime rates. A year-to-year analysis of the data shows that in 2002 and 2003 citizen-generated calls for service were up 3% and 7% respectively. Similarly, Part I Crime increased 3% in 2002 and 2003. Conversely, when citizen-generated calls for service decreased by 2% in 2007 and 9% in 2008, Part I Crime decreased by 3% and 12% respectively.

These decreases in calls for service and the corresponding reduction in crime allow patrol officers more time to proactively monitor crime problems in the communities they serve. As officers spend more time working their districts, they aggressively seek out violent offenders who would put the lives of others at risk by engaging in such activities as possessing or firing illegal weapons and open air narcotic sales.

Police Chief Henry Whitehorn reiterated that the low numbers are the result of good old fashioned police work as well as partnerships with other governmental entities and the community. “The men and women of the Shreveport Police Department are out there everyday on the front lines in our fight against crime, but without support from our city leaders, other law enforcement agencies, and the citizens we serve, our job would be that much more difficult. Our relationship with the communities we are charged with protecting is of paramount importance to our crime fighting plan”, Whitehorn said.

The Shreveport Police Department works hand in hand with Neighborhood Watch groups around the city and recognizes the vital role these groups play in crime prevention. Anyone not already involved in a Neighborhood Watch group and interested in helping reduce crime even further in Shreveport, is urged to call the Community Oriented Policing Bureau at 318-673-6950.

View all SPD press releases at www.shreveportla.gov