Mayor, Law Enforcement Agencies Hold Shreveport Crime Summit [VIDEO]

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright about Wednesday's meeting with Mayor Adrian Perkins and area law enforcement agencies to put together a plan to increase police presence in the city's troubled neighborhoods.

The Chief told KEEL listeners that the purpose of the meeting, which included Mayor Perkins, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, representatives from the Louisiana State Police, the City Marshall's Office, plus the DEA, ATF, the FBI and the U.S. Marshall's Service. Also present were members of both the Caddo Parish District Attorney and the U.S. Attorney's offices.

Raymond summed up the purpose of the gathering, saying, "The reality is crime is decreasing, but we want our citizens to not only feel safe, but to know that they are safe."

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, also at Wednesday's meeting, talked with KEEL's Robert J Wright about the seriousness of a heightened law enforcement  presence, telling listeners, "We're not going down there to wave at kids. We're going down there to make sure that everything is peaceful and that law abiding citizens are the winners."