What Closed Shreveport School Could Be New Police HQ?

SHREVEPORT, LA - The newly appointed Superintendent of Caddo Parish schools say he is ready to work with the city of Shreveport to help find a solution to the crisis involving the police headquarters.

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Keith Burton takes over as Superintendent on Tuesday, but he says he is ready to have discussions with Mayor Tom Arceneaux about properties the school board owns that might be appropriate for temporary use to house the police department while a new headquarters is being built.

This year, Caddo Parish shut down Werner Park and Sunset Acres Elementary Schools.

Other campuses that are closed and are possible sites for SPD include Stoner Hill, Mooretown, Hamilton Terrace and several others.

Since 2000, more than 20 schools have closed in Caddo Parish. 11 of them have been shut down over the past 10 years. More downsizing is likely in the future as enrollment continues to decline.

What Would Shreveport Need?

The city of Shreveport is currently looking for a property that could house the police department for at least a year while the new police headquarters is build. The facility would need to be large enough to accommodate more than 400 employees.

It would also need plenty of parking for those employees. The complex also needs to be easily accessible to the public that often has to do business with the police department.

The current police headquarters building has many problems, including leaks, HVAC problems, mildew, non working restrooms, etc.

What Would the City Have to Provide?

If Shreveport were to move into one of these vacant schools, the city would have to take over all utility costs. I am sure the school board would also require the city to take over maintenance costs. Burton says he would support a measure to let the city use one of the properties at a very minimal cost, but he says the final decision on that would be up to the full board.

But he says anything that helps to improve our community is good for us all and he would be very supportive of putting one of our school campuses back into use for this purpose.