CADDO COMMISSIONER JOHN-PAUL YOUNG WANTS PARISH TO FUND PURCHASE OF SPD VEHICLES

Caddo Commissioner John-Paul Young plans to introduce an ordinance at Monday’s Caddo Commission work session to fund $2.8 million to purchase 40 take home vehicles for the Shreveport Police Department at a cost of $70 thousand per vehicle.

Here is the rationale for John-Paul’s ordinance as stated in the whereas paragraphs of the ordinance:

1.      Starting patrol office pay for SPD officers is currently and historically the lowest of any municipality in the region

2.      Police presence is a major deterrent to criminal activity and significantly improves public confidence in personal safety, security of property, and public order

3.      Take home police vehicles increase the visible police presence within Shreveport neighborhoods more than “pool vehicles” and increase police morale

4.      Take home vehicles have an expected useful life of eight to ten years rather than the expected useful life of two to three years of pool vehicles

5.      Shreveport citizens constitute over 78% of the citizens of Caddo and therefore most of the Caddo Parish tax base

6.      State law and the charters of Caddo Parish and the City of Shreveport limit the ways Caddo Parish can support the needs of the City and Shreveport citizens

7.      Caddo Parish purchased police vehicles for the City of Shreveport in 2016.

Of the 12 Caddo Commissioners, 11 have portions of the City of Shreveport in their respective districts and most of the districts are totally within the Shreveport city limits.

Over 75 Caddo Parish employees have take home vehicles.

The Commission’s vote on Monday could place the ordinance on next Thursday’s agenda for a first reading.