Evidently Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn believes in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.
Whitehorn presented a major wish list last month to the Caddo Commission Long Range Planning Committee last month. He proposed the purchase of the former Mitsubishi auto plex. Whitehorn asked the Commission to approve the following:
a. Pay half the purchase price of 5.5 million
b. Pay half of the costs for renovations needed to the facility estimated to be $1.7 million
c. Pay half of the costs to move the North Market facility to the auto plex at a cost NOT provided to the Commission
d. Pay half of the costs of needed office equipment and furnishing at new facility at a cost NOT provided to Commission
e. Pay for all maintenance on the facility starting in year 5.
The Commission meets today (Tues.) at 3:30 p.m. to review the 2026 budget. It is likely that the Commission will authorize the Caddo Administrator Erica Bryant to negotiate a one-time payment to Whitehorn for relocation, not to exceed $2.5 million.
The Parish has a legal obligation to provide facilities for the Sheriff.
At the Commission meeting last month Whitehorn unveiled a high-dollar well-scripted video displaying the deplorable condition of the North Market facility.
Problems displayed in living color and tearful audio included mold, frequent water leaks, electrical issues and security concerns. This facility is leased to the Sheriff, and the parish pays the lease payments.
The Sheriff proved his case for the need for a new facility for computer records, evidence storage, etc.
The question is WHY the Sheriff waited so long to ask for new digs for this facility. Whitehorn was sworn into office on July 1 of last year. Obviously, the untenantable conditions existed the day he became Sheriff.
Whitehorn advised the Committee that he had looked for alternative locations. He did NOT say he looked for a building to lease or purchase to just replace the North Market location. He indicated he wanted a much larger facility to house other functions of his office. He did NOT explain why he had not advised the Commission of the problems with the North Market location before presenting his Christmas wish list.
Fortunately, there have not been injuries to personnel working at the North Market location. Presumably valuable records and evidence have not been lost. Whitehorn waited some 16 months after taking office to advise the Commission of the conditions at this location. If there are any personnel injuries or damages to records/evidence, seemingly the Sheriff, not the Commission, would have responsibility for damages incurred.
To date, the Sheriff’s office has not answered an overdue public records request for information supporting his request. This request also inquired as to the Sheriff reserve funds on the day he took office and on the date of his response. At the Commission’s work session yesterday Administrator Bryant advised the Commission she believed the Sheriff has at least $80 million in reserve funds.
Obviously more transparency is needed from the Sheriff’s office. Despite that, the Commission is expected to approve a reasonable solution to its legal obligation with a one-time payment to the Sheriff who can then decide when and where to relocate the North Market facility.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.