The simple answer to this question is “because he can.”
Perhaps the real reason is the Sheriff Whitehorn does not want to be transparent and discourages public records requests.
Public records requests to the Caddo Sheriff are made through the Sheriff’s public records request portal, much like requests to the Caddo Parish and the City of Shreveport public records portals.
Both the Parish and the City reply to the requests by email, at no charge.
The Sheriff has implemented an has an expensive time-consuming protocol for responses to requests of public records.
Once the response to the request has been prepared, the requester gets an email setting forth a charge of $1 per page that requires a trip to Government Plaza with a check in the amount charged.
Then, after tender of the check, the written response is handed over.
Recently a short three sentence response was only received after $1 was tendered.
Hmmm…. what was t the administrative cost to the Sheriff to bill the $1, receive the $1 check, and deposit the same.
More importantly, why does the High Sheriff impose this hurdle to receive public information about his office.
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.