North Louisiana Sheriff Departments Battling Officer Shortage Amid Statewide Crisis

Is there an officer shortage in North Louisiana sheriff departments?

Louisiana is facing a such critical shortage of police officers, that Governor Jeff Landy declared a State of Emergency over it, and the legislature recently held a special session on crime. Law enforcement agencies in Louisiana are confronted with a dire situation where they are losing officers faster than they can replace them. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office faces a significant manpower shortage, while other North Louisiana sheriff agencies remain minimally unaffected.

What does the declaration say?

The state of emergency declares that the nation and state are experiencing a police officer staffing crisis, and law enforcement agencies are losing officers faster than they can hire new ones. Law enforcement agencies saw a 47 percent increase in resignations and a 20 percent increase in retirements from 2019 to 2022. 78 percent of law enforcement agencies struggle to find qualified candidates, and 65 percent have a low number of applicants for law enforcement positions. Staffing challenges have led 25 percent of national law enforcement agencies to reduce or eliminate certain services, units or positions within their departments, the declaration reads.

The national police officer shortage has impacted Louisiana, resulting in record-low employment rates and longer response times, which pose a significant threat to safety, property and lives of individuals within the state. The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association estimates that Louisiana sheriff’s offices were down approximately 1,800 deputies statewide as of July 2023.

Are law enforcement agencies throughout the region facing challenges with staffing and recruitment?

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently facing a staffing shortage of 65 officers in corrections and post, as well as 15 positions in administration, according to Captain Sharon Piggs. The primary challenge in addressing the staffing shortage within the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is the need for deputies to work overtime voluntarily to cover patrol shifts and duties at the Caddo Correctional Center.

To address manpower issues, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office relies on volunteer reserve deputies and non-threatening case assistance from auxiliary deputies.

Lt. Matt Gaydos, public information officer for the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, said the department is always searching for the best recruits that they can find to fill the empty ranks of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently facing a shortage, similar to other law enforcement agencies within the state, Public Information Officer Glenn Springfield said. However, the severity of this shortage is not as dire as perceived by most.

The department has effectively minimized the shortage by providing a competitive salary and benefits package for new hires, actively recruiting through career fairs, and utilizing social media pages to reach potential candidates.