U.S. Attorney, Shreveport Mayor and Police Chief Attend Shreveport/Bossier Night Out

SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley, and members of her office, Mike Campbell, Law Enforcement Community Coordinator (LECC), and Robert Gillespie, Jr., an Assistant U.S. Attorney/Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator, joined Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator’s Office, Bossier Parish Julian Whittington’s Office, Bossier City Police Chief Shane McWilliams’ Office and other local law enforcement and community leaders in neighborhoods throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes Tuesday as part of their annual National Night Out crime and drug prevention event.

Residents unlocked their doors, turned on porch lights and spent the evening outside with family, friends, neighbors, emergency response personnel and city officials. Many neighborhoods throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes hosted a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anti-crime rallies. The Shreveport/Bossier Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police ­community partnerships, and send a clear message that neighbors are organized and fighting back.

“The Shreveport/Bossier Night Out is a way for neighbors to join with their law enforcement and community partners to demonstrate that crime does not rule the night and that criminals have no safe haven when the sun goes down,” Finley stated. “The ‘Night Out’ is also a great way to acknowledge the accomplishments of neighborhood organizations that keep communities safe. We are all in this effort together. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with residents of the Shreveport/Bossier City area to discuss concerns and ways to improve law enforcement within our communities.”

“This is a very important event because it reaffirms our commitment to the community,” Shaw stated. “This is a new day to bond with the public. We want the people to know that law enforcement will work together as a team to solve crimes in our region.”

As the District’s Law Enforcement Community Coordinator, Mike Campbell acts as a liaison between the U.S. Attorney's Office and local, state, and federal law enforcement.  He assists with grants, coordinates and provides law enforcement training, and assists law enforcement agencies with special and community needs.  The mission of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee is to develop coordination, communication, and cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Western District of Louisiana by providing education, training, and technical assistance to all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the district.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie, Jr. is the District’s Coordinator for the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), is the anti-gang, anti-gun violence initiative of the United States Department of Justice.  It is a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun violence and promoting safe communities around the country.  PSN combats gun violence by bringing together local, state, and federal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to implement a multi-faceted strategy to deter and punish gun violence.

Thousands of communities across the United States took part in the 31st Annual National Night Out starting in August. To find out more about National Night Out visit the National Association for Town Watch at http://www.natw.org.