Police chief addresses panhandling in the city

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Police Chief Wayne Smith addresses panhandling in the city.

Chief Smith said his department has received several reports about panhandlers in the city. He added the statistics to his bi-weekly crime briefing to the Shreveport City Council on Tuesday. He said in 2024, 91 calls were made to police over panhandling, and in 2025, it dropped to 57 calls.

“So that is a decrease by about 34 percent,” Smith said.

Police said not to approach panhandlers because they are probably running a scheme. There are many services in the city to help the homeless.

Call the police to report a panhandler.