SHREVEPORT, LA — The City of Shreveport has reduced accident claims from $2 million in 2001 to $333,000 in 2004, by emphasizing safe driving through the city’s risk management office, according to The Times of Shreveport newspaper. For the police department alone, accident claims dropped to $88,926 last year from $250,410 in 2003. Despite the decline, police account for the majority of accidents involving city vehicles with an average of 110 accidents per year over the past six years. Police recruits average about 40 hours of defensive driving while in the Shreveport Police Academy, according to the report. Upon completion of the academy, officers take the National Academy for Professional Driving course about every three years. Officers involved in accidents go through an eight-hour refresher course.