Can Shreveport Shootings Be Reduced? Caddo Sheriff Prator Details His Plan

Caddo Parish Steve Prator talks about his ideas to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in the Shreveport area.

In a Sunday release, Prator summed up what he, and others, see as a deteriorating situation:

"Violent crime is literally killing Shreveport and its citizens.  State, parish, and city elected officials, the business community, criminal justice professionals, colleges and universities, churches (Synagogues), the media, and our citizens all have a part to play and must work as a team if we expect to reduce violent crime."

Prator begins by saying that, despite the seriousness of the situation, no one seems to want to be in charge. "There doesn't seem to be any crime czar. With COVID, everybody was clamoring, fighting to be in charge...with violent crime, it seems like we're in our little lane and don't want to get in anybody else's, but I'm telling you, we've got to approach it like we're a team. Everybody's got to work together."

The Sheriff then says a big part of the problem is the state's Justice Reinvestment (Act) which reduced the length of sentences for a large number of violent criminals. "It seems to fall in the lap of law enforcement, which is unfair because a lot of things happen prior to that. I knew we were going to have some problems and crime has come up since Justice Reinvestment in 2017. There were violent criminals who were released.

Prator also says a growing problem is law enforcement facing a manpower shortage. "Potential applicants think through it and they say, 'Why would I want to do that?' Elected officials have to lead and set the example of appreciating law enforcement...rather than saying we are the bad guys. That is so far from the truth, but that is what some elected officials would lead you to believe."