Bossier City officials continually tout public safety in their city, and rightfully so.
At the Tuesday (March 17) Bossier council meeting, the Bossier City Council authorized funding to hire an additional 10 police officers and 10 firefighters.
The ordinance amended the city’s 2026 budget to increase expenditure for Police Department Salaries and Benefits by $375,000 and Fire Department Salaries and Benefits by $273,750. The 2026 Emergency Medical Services budget was also increased by $101,250.
This ordinance will become effective in April after publication.
This ordinance was a long time coming for Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler and Bossier councilman Chris Smith who campaigned with now CAO Shane Cheatham during the 2020/2021 election season to get more police officers on the streets along with additional fire and EMS personnel on staff.
At no point in Bossier’s history has the city funded 10 new police and fire personnel in one year. This vote is a further testament to the campaign promises of all the council members who took office July 1, 2025, to improve public safety funding.
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.