Shreveport Leaders Look to Buy More Police Cars

Shreveport city leaders are moving forward with plans to purchase another round of new police cruisers as the department struggles with an aging fleet. Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark told members of the city council that several current patrol cars have been pulled from service, either due to age or because they were damaged in accidents.

READ MORE: Shreveport bought 60 police cars in January of 2025

The administration has introduced a budget amendment that would allocate additional money to help replace these vehicles. Dark said the effort is part of a larger push to ensure officers have safe, reliable vehicles to respond to emergencies across the city.

Cost of the New Cruisers

The proposal outlines a plan to spend roughly $1.85 million to buy 30 new police cruisers. Of that amount, about $1.4 million would come from the city’s general fund, while another $450,000 would be drawn from the public safety fund.

According to Dark, the administration believes the investment is critical to maintaining public safety and keeping the department operating at full capacity. “We are trying to get our fleet back into the shape that we need to be at,” he told the council.

Where the Money Will Come From

Much of the funding for this purchase is expected to come from an increase in oil and gas revenues that have flowed into city coffers. City leaders say those dollars provide an opportunity to address pressing needs, such as the police department’s ongoing vehicle shortage.

The new cruisers would join other recent additions to the fleet that were purchased earlier this year. City officials have emphasized that without continued investment, Shreveport’s police fleet will continue to shrink as older cars are retired from service.

What’s Next for the Proposal

The city council is expected to take final action on the budget amendment at its upcoming meeting on September 23. If approved, the new cruisers could be ordered soon after, though it may take several months before the vehicles are delivered and put into service.

City officials say the goal is to strengthen the department’s ability to respond to emergencies and improve overall efficiency. For officers on the street, the additional cruisers would mean fewer breakdowns, less time in the shop for repairs, and more reliable service for Shreveport residents.