Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux has responded to a letter from three city council members outlining the dilapidated conditions at the Shreveport police station.
James Green, Tabatha Taylor, and Grayson Boucher wrote a letter on Monday Sept. 16, emphasizing the necessity of relocating the police department due to the subpar state of the Shreveport Police Station.
The council letter came just days after LSU Health Shreveport announced that it would be opening a new research facility in the old Sears building at Mall St. Vincent, a site which had been considered for a new police station.
For the last five years the Shreveport Police Station located at 1234 Texas Avenue has increasingly come under scrutiny for its poor condition, which pose significant health and safety risks to officers, administrative staff and the public, according to the letter.
“Issues such as mold infestation, inadequate heating and cooling systems, and raw sewage have created an environment that is not only uncomfortable but also hazardous to the well-being of law enforcement personnel,” the letter read. “The passage of a 2021 bond aimed at finding a new police station was seen as a crucial step toward addressing these issues. However, despite the community’s support, construction has yet to begin, leading to calls for the immediate relocation of the police station. You and Police Chief Wayne Smith have both commented on these pressing concerns, emphasizing the urgent need for change yet aren’t aware of any action to move our officers and administrative staff into a safer work environment.”