Could Shreveport See National Guard Troops?

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has formally asked the Pentagon to have the federal government cover the costs for deploying 1,000 Louisiana National Guard Troops. These troops would be used to help local law enforcement in the fight against crime across the state.

Governor Landry was on Fox News last night discussing the situation, noting that while violent crime in New Orleans had decreased from when he took office last year, the city has recently seen "an uptick" in crime numbers.

Get our free mobile app

"And we are going to crack down on violence in the city of New Orleans. We’re not going to tolerate this uptick in violence that’s going on right now," Landry stated. 

 Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith recently told KEEL News he would welcome any help in reducing crime and keeping the citizens of Shreveport safe.

Expanding the National Guard's Role in Crime Fighting in Louisiana 

The request for federal funding and troop deployment follows a pattern of recent authorizations in other parts of the country. The Trump administration previously approved the deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C. to address crime and immigration enforcement.

READ MORE: Shreveport Man Wanted for Sexual Assault on 10 Year-old Child

More recently, the Guard has been sent to cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Portland, Oregon. Governor Landry expressed confidence that his request would be approved by the President. 

“Oh yeah, the President’s happy to send us the troops. And you know what, the troops are happy to come,” Landry remarked. 

Addressing Louisiana Crime and Manpower Shortages 

Governor Landry explained that the need for the National Guard extends beyond New Orleans. The state is also experiencing elevated crime rates in Shreveport and Baton Rouge.

Compounding this issue are manpower shortages within local law enforcement agencies. Landry believes the National Guard can effectively supplement the presence of police in high-crime areas. 

He concluded, "So we can continue to reduce the amount of violence on our streets."