Louisiana City Funds 40 Take-Home Vehicles

The City of Shreveport, Louisiana, council has voted to transfer nearly $6.5 million from the general fund operating reserves to purchase vehicles and equipment for the Police and Fire departments, ArkLaTex reported.

Ordinance 117 transfers $3.2 million to the Police Department for the purchase of 40 take-home vehicles costing more than $2 million. The city will also purchase 225 radars, firearms, firearm lock boxes, 100 body cameras, and CSI vehicles, according to city council documents.

Police Chief Ben Raymond said take-home vehicles would allow officers to be visible within their communities.

Councilman Grayson Boucher, who sponsored one of the ordinances, previously announced on Facebook that his goal was to ensure “every officer that lives in Shreveport can have a take-home vehicle. This will cut down on wear and tear of the units and will drastically increase the life of these vehicles and overall maintenance cost.”

Ordinance 116 transfers more than $3.2 million to the Fire Department to purchase three fire engines, one medic unit, two bomb suits, bunker gear, and CPR devices.

The Fire Chief told KEEL that the fire fleet is deteriorating, and only nine of its 21 front-line engines are less than 15 years old.