Wayne Smith is serving as Shreveport's substitute police chief. He was appointed by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins to that position on Aug. 27 of this year.
On Wednesday of this week, Perkins announced the appointment of John "J.P." Lane as Shreveport's substitute fire chief effective Friday (Oct. 22). Perkins also advised that Lane would NOT be a candidate for the permanent position. (It is assumed that Smith will, as he did previously, seek the permanent police chief position.)
Candidates for both chief positions must take the state civil service board exam. The police chief exam will be in December, and the fire chief exam in January of next year. (As of press deadline, the actual exam dates had not been set by Baton Rouge.)
The exam results may take up to six weeks for processing and posting by the Louisiana Office of State Examiner. Thereafter, the mayor can commence the interview process before making a nomination to the Shreveport City Council.
So the answer to the question on when to expect new chiefs is "not soon" and "it depends."
What impact, if any, the substitute chiefs will have on the Dec. 11 bond package is the $64,000 question. Both Smith and Lane will most likely be part of the traveling road show to explain and sell the bond package -- if that is the mayor's strategy this time around.
Both of Perkins' nominations will undoubtedly be a factor in his re-election bid for mayor. The serious mayoral race tire-kicking will start in earnest after the New Year, and the actions/inaction of the mayor and any other potential candidates will become much more foreground in the eyes of the voters.