Shreveport council members pen letter to mayor about police station conditions

Shreveport councilmembers James Green, Tabatha Taylor and Grayson Boucher penned a letter on Monday, emphasizing the necessity of relocating the police department due to the subpar state of the Shreveport Police Station.

The letter comes just days after LSU Health Shreveport announced that it would be opening a new research facility in the old Sears building at Mall St. Vincent, a site which had been considered for a new police station.

For the last five years the Shreveport Police Station located at 1234 Texas Avenue has increasingly come under scrutiny for its poor condition, which pose significant health and safety risks to officers, administrative staff and the public, according to the letter.

City council Tuesday August, 13, 2019 at Government Plaza in downtown Shreveport.

“Issues such as mold infestation, inadequate heating and cooling systems, and raw sewage have created an environment that is not only uncomfortable but also hazardous to the well-being of law enforcement personnel,” the letter read. “The passage of a 2021 bond aimed at finding a new police station was seen as a crucial step toward addressing these issues. However, despite the community’s support, construction has yet to begin, leading to calls for the immediate relocation of the police station. You and Police Chief Wayne Smith have both commented on these pressing concerns, emphasizing the urgent need for change yet aren’t aware of any action to move our officers and administrative staff into a safer work environment.”

In the letter, Green, Taylor and Boucher said the Shreveport Police Station’s deteriorating conditions present serious health risks for officers. They said mold growth within the facility can lead to various respiratory issues, fatigue, and other long-term health complications.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith stands in a bathroom in the Shreveport Police Station that has only one working toilet, an issue which was to be addressed with the 2021 Bond Proposal on November 24, 2021.

“Furthermore, the inadequacy of heating and cooling system has rendered the workplace uncomfortable, affecting officers’ ability to perform their duties effectively,” the letter read. “During extreme weather conditions, inadequate temperature control can lead to heat stress or further compromising officers and administrative staff safely and well-being and mental effectiveness to complete their duties.”

Conditions of the poor facility has led to a mass exodus of our officers and administrative staff to other departments in search of better working conditions, according to the letter. The letter said that addressing these working conditions, is critical to retaining officers and administrative staff and ensuring a stable law enforcement presence in Shreveport.

The Shreveport Police Station has ceiling vents covered with black stains, an issue which was to be addressed with the 2021 Bond Proposal on November 24, 2021.

“As you’re well aware the Shreveport voters passed a bond measure in December of 2021, allocating $27,500,000 with the intent of financing the construction of a new state of the art police station,” the letter continued. “The bond garnered significant support, with approximately 62 percent of voters in favor, reflecting a collective understanding of the necessity for improved facilities to ensure the health and safety of officers and the administrative staff. This bond represented not just a financial commitment, but also a community endorsement of law enforcement and the need for a supportive work environment.”

Despite the bond’s passage, construction on the new police station (headquarters) has not yet begun, leading to mounting frustration among officers, staff, citizens, and many members of the Shreveport City Council, Green, Taylor and Boucher said in the letter.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith points to an area outside the Shreveport Police Station where the exterior wall has separated, an issue that was to be addressed with the 2021 Bond Proposal on November 24, 2021.

“The city council has on numerous occasions requested the mayor and police chief relocate our officers and administrative staff to safer working conditions and a temporary police station, this request has not taken place,” the letter continued. “This has prompted us to request the Mayor and Police Chief to immediately relocate the Shreveport Police Station to ensure the health, safety and mental well-being of our officers and administrative staff.”

Green, Taylor and Boucher said they will be placing legislation on the September 24th agenda, strongly encouraging Arceneaux and Smith to declare a state of emergency in relation to the conditions of the police station and immediately move officers and administrative staff to a safer working environment.