Shreveport police chief says 2023 was 'not the best year' after 58% homicide rate increase
Shreveport officials have publically addressed the sharp increase in homicides in 2023.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, the Shreveport Police Department along with the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office hosted a press conference regarding the prior year's crime rate.
"2023 was not the best year for the City of Shreveport when it comes to violent crime," said Smith. "We'll reevaluate how we deployed our personnel and our resources to do a much better job in targeting the crime that showed the increase for 2023."
According to Police Chief Wayne Smith, the department responded to 160,750 calls in demand of service.
Shreveport saw a 58% increase in homicides over 2022. The department also reported forcible rapes decreased by 7% and total robberies decreased by 10%.
Shreveport Police Department also arrested 6,667 people in 2023. Smith said, "What that means is that Shreveport Police officers in 2023 actually booked more people in the Shreveport City jail than they did in 2022."
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"We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to process arrest in cases made by the Shreveport Police Department and we believe in 2023, the numbers reflect a very positive result of what we've been doing together," said James Stewart, Caddo Parish DA.
According to Stewart, in 2023 approximately 2,000 felony convictions were made in Caddo Parish, and about 1,200 of those were cases that started with the Shreveport Police Department.
The Caddo courts also conducted 60 jury trials in 2023, the most 2008. Stewart said, "we want the public to know that your Shreveport Police Department and your Caddo District Attorney has justice in mind."
Moving forward into 2024, the department plans to institute strategies aimed at combating the city's crime.
These strategies include technology, such as the Real Time Crime Center, drones and portable cameras. "We're deploying and embracing more technologies, that are going to help us out greatly," said Smith.
More: Caddo Sheriff’s Deputy injured, suspect killed in shooting at Shreveport apartment complex
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport homicide rate jumps 58% in 2023. What officials have to say
