Chief Smith speaks about the city’s dropping crime rate

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The police chief discussed his team’s efforts to reduce the city’s crime rate.

Chief Wayne Smith answered questions candidly to during a special, in-depth interview conducted at the newly announced substation site in Cedar Grove neighborhood.

Chief Smith stated that under his administration, with the assistance of the city council and Mayor Tom Arceneaux, the city’s violent crime rate is decreasing. He said the role of the substation will also help curb crime by creating a safe place for the community and allowing neighbors to get to know their local patrol officers in a friendly way.

“The actual building will be right where we are standing now. We are so excited about it because of all the possibilities that it could bring to this community. It will allow us to be more embedded in the community. The officers who will stationed here will be officers that actually work in this surrounding community,” Smith said.

Join us next Wednesday night on Fox 33 at 9 p.m. and NBC 6 at 10 p.m. to watch the in-depth Salute the Badge story of Chief Smith, how he brought crime down in the City of Shreveport, his law enforcement background, and how he’s training the next generation of officers to tackle a new frontier of community policing.