The City of Shreveport Mayor’s Office has responded to concerns raised by the Shreveport Police Officers Association regarding police funding, staffing, and officer compensation. The response follows a recent Ark-La-Tex Gazette article that examined claims made by the association and a circulating video alleging Mayor Tom Arceneaux reduced police funding. In a written statement released Aug. 5, Mayor Arceneaux said the city has increased spending on the Shreveport Police Department during his administration and disputed claims that the department has been defunded.
In the Gazette’s earlier report, Dr. Michael Carter, president of the Shreveport Police Officers Association, said the department is operating with approximately 177 fewer officers than its authorized staffing level. Dr. Carter also said he opposed the removal of approximately $4.5 million from the police personnel budget in 2023, arguing that the funding should have remained available to address staffing shortages. The association has also expressed concerns about officer recruitment, retention, compensation, and mandatory overtime while continuing its lawsuit against the city over overtime policies.
In his statement, Mayor Arceneaux said the city’s budget actions reflected adjustments to account for long vacant positions rather than reductions in support for law enforcement. According to the mayor, the 2023 budget approved before he took office included funding for more than 100 vacant police positions that were not expected to be filled. He said his administration recommended reallocating unused salary funds to other city priorities, including street repairs, housing demolition, and litter collection. The mayor also stated that the city has consistently committed to funding every police position that can be filled.
The mayor’s written statement also detailed increases in police compensation during his administration. According to the release, the City Council approved a 3% pay increase for police and fire civil service employees in both 2025 and 2026. Those raises were in addition to a state mandated 2% increase each year. The administration also implemented recruiting incentives, including a $10,000 stipend for officers transferring from another law enforcement agency, increased first year pay, education incentives, and additional compensation for firearms proficiency and physical fitness. Uniform allowances also increased by $400 per officer in 2026.
Arceneaux stated that the city’s 2026 budget includes more than $68.8 million for police salaries and benefits, which he said represents a 21.3% increase compared with 2022 expenditures. He also said officer pay has increased by nearly 15% during his term, excluding the value of additional incentive programs.
Beyond personnel costs, the mayor highlighted investments in police equipment. According to the mayor’s response, the City Council approved more than $13 million over five years for new Tasers, in car computers, and body cameras in late 2023. The city also approved funding for more than 135 new patrol vehicles over the past three years at a cost exceeding $8 million. Arceneaux noted that the city’s Public Safety Fund has provided more than $3 million for police and fire equipment, including camera trailers, drones, and shared funding for a helicopter operated by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office.
The mayor also addressed the police union’s request for additional salary increases. According to the statement, a proposed 10% pay increase presented to the City Council by Dr. Carter would have cost approximately $5 million annually for police alone. Arceneaux said extending the same increase to firefighters, consistent with the city’s historical practice of matching police and fire raises, would have increased the annual cost to approximately $10 million. He said the administration did not believe those funds were available without reducing other city services.
The staffing concerns raised by the Shreveport Police Officers Association remain a point of disagreement between the union and city leadership. While the association argues that staffing shortages and compensation issues continue to affect recruitment and retention, the mayor maintains that the city has increased investments in officer pay, equipment, and hiring incentives while continuing to evaluate additional funding options. Arceneaux concluded his statement by expressing support for the department and said the administration will continue seeking responsible opportunities to improve officer compensation while maintaining a sustainable city budget.
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