TikTok video, other issues prompt SPD to place officer on leave after public complaints

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Chief Wayne Smith has placed a Shreveport Police Officer on emergency leave. A TikTok video of the officer in her SPD uniform with music containing what some might consider inappropriate could be a department social media violation.

Chris Bordelon with the Shreveport Police said, “There was some disturbing elements to some of the videos that were circulating online. We were also informed of a possible altercation that occurred with this officer downtown this past weekend, so we are conducting dual investigations.”

The video in question, which we cannot post, was brought to the chief’s attention by Dominick Izzo, who runs a webpage and social media sites called “Cop Talk Live.” Izzo claims he is working to change cop culture.

He told us, “We have an epidemic of young people who are getting involved in the profession right now that go and get the badge and uniform and leverage that for their social media clout.”

Speaking for Shreveport Police Bordelon said, “We expect our officers to handle themselves respectfully on social media, we encourage them to have citizen outreach on social media, but if they’re going to wear that SPD badge and that SPD patch, they’re going to have to do so in a respectable manner.”