The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office recently participated in a one-day leadership training with the Shreveport Police Department focused on violence against women and improving law enforcement’s response to domestic violence.

The training was led by Mark Wynn of Wynn Consulting and Melissa Richard, a Justice Systems Advocate with the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Command staff from both agencies discussed the common characteristics of crimes against women, frequently overlooked concurrent offenses, reasons these crimes may go unrecognized during investigations and the consequences of not fully addressing domestic violence cases.

The training also focused on recognizing potential officer bias, approaching victims with sensitivity and understanding the fear and distrust that can prevent survivors from fully engaging with law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

Leaders from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Shreveport Police Department have collaborated to enhance strategies for investigating domestic violence, holding offenders accountable and supporting survivors.

Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. said the effort is rooted in education and a shared commitment to improving responses to domestic violence incidents.