The City Council is expected to approve the temporary use of ATVS for private patrols on the other downtown streets at its next meeting on 10, 2027.
Spring, Marshall And Texas Streets Off Limits For Proposed Downtown Private Patrol ATVS
It’s like whack a mole.
The highly touted but nothing delivered downtown private patrol trumpeted by DDA executive director Cedric Glover continues to incur implementation problems.
Initially, Big G does NOT have a contract with a private security company.
Secondly, Big G and DDA are still in process of purchasing the 2 needed ATVS and outfitting them. A deposit has been made but no information has been disclosed on full cost including decals and bar lights or the delivery date.
And now the real killer has popped up.
Spring Street, Marshal Street and Texas Street are state highways.
Utility terrain vehicles, i.e. ATVs, cannot be used on state highways without permission from the Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOT) which has yet to be obtained. No approval timeline is known for a DOT decision.
Guess where most of the serious violence has occurred downtown? How about on Texas Street, Spring Street and Marshall Street.
Yesterday (Tues.) the Shreveport City Council approved the temporary use of ATVS for private patrols on the other downtown streets, effective until 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2027. The council has previously approved the free use of a unit in the Red River District for this private patrol company to utilize.
Like Rip Van Winkle, Glover has recently woke up and realized that the DDA tax renewal is on Tuesday’s ballot and that he needed to do something.
His announced glorious plans to revitalize downtown security at a October 1 press conference has so far been all promise and no pudding.
