Dear Caddo Parish Residents,
As I reflect on my first 100 days as your Sheriff, I am proud of the progress we have made in building trust within our community. From day one, my focus has been on enhancing transparency and ensuring that our law enforcement practices are rooted in fairness and accountability. These early days have been a crucial period for establishing new partnerships, reinforcing our commitment to community engagement, and beginning key initiatives that will help us serve you better in the years ahead.
Together, we are laying the foundation for a safer, stronger future for all. We thank the community for your unwavering support and partnership over the past 100 days. Your engagement has been instrumental in our efforts to enhance public safety and improve the quality of life in Caddo Parish.
Over the past 100 days, our commitment to public safety has driven a series of initiatives aimed at reducing crime and fostering community trust. This report outlines key efforts to ensure a safer environment for all residents.
Public Safety Initiatives
July 1 – Present
Collaborations and Partnerships: We are actively engaging with all police chiefs and constables in the parish to enhance support for their crime-fighting initiatives. In partnership with our federal law enforcement partners, we are developing strategies aimed at reducing violent crime in local neighborhoods. Additionally, we are formulating a proposal to assist the Shreveport Police Department with increased patrols within the city limits. We have prioritized community engagement by meeting with numerous local organizations to strengthen partnerships and address community needs.
School Resource Officer Program: We have hired additional trained deputies as School Resource Officers, successfully fulfilling our goal of placing an SRO in every high school at the start of the school year.
Community Relations/Crime Prevention Unit: The newly established unit is creating youth
programs designed to engage the community in crime prevention strategies, in partnership with
non-governmental organizations.
Active Shooter Training Exercise: The Caddo Sheriff’s Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP), along with the Shreveport City Marshal’s Office, hosted a
training event at the Caddo-Bossier Port Commission. It was designed to test and enhance the
cooperation and readiness of first responders in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, and Red River parishes.
Participants practiced operating under the Active Shooter Incident Management (ASIM) to provide
a coordinated response when multiple agencies are involved in an emergency.
Firearm Instructor School: In July, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted its first Federal Law
Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Firearm Instructor School. The two-week program was
held at the Regional Training Academy and attended by law enforcement agencies from
throughout the state. Sgt. Michael McConnell and Deputy Cory Bourn attended the school and
fulfilled the requirements established by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to become
FLETC firearms instructors.
Enforcement Detail: On September 27, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office partnered with
Louisiana State Police, the Shreveport Police Department, and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office for a
saturated enforcement detail. The operation resulted in 78 traffic stops and 55 citations.
Drone Unit: The team responded to 40 callouts for searches related to wanted suspects, missing
children and elderly individuals, special operations, and other activities. Additionally, the Drone
Team provided support to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, FBI, ATF, and
DEA. These callouts led to 10 arrests over a total of 39 flight hours. The Drone Team members
have accumulated more than 60 hours of training flights.
Livestock Division: 165 calls for service that resulted in the recovery of loose livestock.
Community Outreach & Youth Activities
July 1 – Present
Misdemeanor Warrant Resolution Event: The inaugural event assisted 150 people in resolving
their warrants by helping them make payments or establish a payment plan. CPSO partnered with
Caddo District Attorney James Stewart, Judge Donald Hathaway, Jr., and Clerk of Court Mike
Spence to allow individuals with outstanding misdemeanor warrants to settle their cases.
National Night Out: CPSO participated in National Night Out and accepted applications for block
parties in the unincorporated areas of Caddo Parish. On October 1, deputies joined residents at
dozens of neighborhood gatherings and crime prevention events to encourage the public to take a
stand against crime.
Range Opens for Sighting Rifles: The Regional Training Academy opened to the public on
October 8 for rifle sighting in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. Targets are provided
and deputies are available to assist participants.
Hunter Safety Education: The Regional Training Academy hosted a safety education course for
hunters. The two-day class gave hunters the opportunity to obtain their state certification.
Youth Firearms Safety Education Camp: Campers were paired with certified deputies for
activities on the firing range, focusing on firearms handling and instruction. Children learned about
gun safety and competed in target shooting. The program included a special demonstration by the
K9 Unit, Special Response Team, and Shreveport Fire Department Bomb Squad.
Inmate Rehabilitation & Skills Development
July 1 – Present
We have prioritized providing inmates with meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation and
personal growth. Several key programs have been successfully completed by inmates, aimed at
enhancing their skills, reducing recidivism, and promoting successful reintegration into society
upon release.
Substance Abuse Programs: 270 inmates have completed substance abuse programs aimed at
addressing critical behavioral health needs with a focus on breaking the cycle of addiction.
Vocational Training: Inmates have enrolled in a variety of vocational courses, including
carpentry, fiber optics, and forklift operation, with 36 participants actively developing valuable job
skills that will facilitate their successful reintegration into the workforce. The carpentry program is
certified by the National Center for Construction Education and Research, where students gain
expertise in constructing and renovating residential and commercial buildings following industry
standards. The fiber optics course equips inmates with the essential skills to install and repair fiber
optic cables, vital for high-speed data transmission and communication infrastructure. Additionally, in October, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office started a partnership with Bossier Parish Community College to offer a forklift operation program for inmates.
Heartsaver (AED) Program: Starting in July, Bossier Parish Community College began offering
a curriculum developed by the American Heart Association. 67 inmates now have the ability to
perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator.
Trust Based Relational Intervention: TBRI is led by Volunteers for Youth Justice and 80
students recently graduated from the program. It is designed to educate parents on mindful
caregiving with a focus on how childhood trauma impacts the brain and influences behavior.
Reentry Program: The Caddo Correctional Center gives resources and support for people to
successfully return to their communities after incarceration with a goal of reducing recidivism. 77
graduates have been equipped with resources for housing, health care, substance abuse treatment,
and counseling services.
New Programs/Initiatives
Transitional Work Release Program: The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections
has approved a transitional work release program, and CPSO will partner with several companies
to launch the initiative in November 2024 with qualified participants.
Explorer Program: Scheduled to launch in January 2025, the youth-focused curriculum will
provide students with a platform to explore their career interests and develop skills in law
enforcement. This program is part of a broader career education effort for Caddo citizens aged 13
to 18.
Organizational Effectiveness: We are in the process of restructuring the Sheriff’s Office to
increase efficiency. CPSO will be incorporating technology and innovative practices to enhance
our ability to serve and protect our community.
Recruitment Efforts: CPSO is filling vacancies in corrections, patrol, investigations,
communications, and administration. We are developing an aggressive recruitment plan to
maintain a pool of qualified applicants.
Fiscal Responsibility: We are correcting the findings from an external audit and are conducting a
critical self-review of the agency’s policies, procedures, facilities, and operations. We want to
ensure that our policies meet an established set of professional standards recognized as best
practices by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Strategic/Transparent Communications: CPSO launched a new website in October, which will
continually improve as we implement a crime mapping feature that allows you to view any
reported crimes in your area or any location within Caddo Parish. The dashboard will provide
insight into parish crime trends and enable us to make data-driven decisions to effectively deploy
deputies to high-crime areas. On October 17, we will introduce a new app that will provide the
public with push notifications, which will alert you instantly to important updates from the CPSO.
Another addition is a real-time link providing live calls for service across Caddo Parish, including
all major cities.
Our mission is clear: we are working to serve the citizens of Caddo Parish with respect, trust,
professional law enforcement services, and financial stewardship. I am honored to lead a strong
department with dedicated personnel who work tirelessly every day to ensure our mission is
fulfilled. As we move forward, we will remain committed to upholding the highest ethical
standards while relentlessly pursuing justice in a fair and equitable manner.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherriff Henry Whitehorn Sr.