Crime Down By 8 Percent in Bossier Parish

In a press release from the Bossier Sheriff's Office, we're tickled to see that Bossier Parish's crime rate has actually decreased by a whopping 8 percent from 2018.

There were at total of 839 major crimes reported in the parish in 2019, compared to 908 crimes reported in 2018.   For 2019, there were 440 person crimes and 399 property crimes.

Here are the complete statistics for the crimes reported in Bossier Parish** in 2018 and 2019:

The press release I received goes on to say:

On person crimes, all three homicide cases were solved and the only robbery in the parish was also solved.

Bossier Sheriff’s Office detectives more than doubled the closure rate for rape, clearing 80 percent of the cases; the national closure rate for rape is 35 percent.  Rape cases also decreased by 50 percent.

On property crimes, Bossier detectives closed about one-third of all burglary cases; national average is 14 percent.

Vehicle burglary crimes significantly decreased by 40 percent from 105 in 2018 to 64 in 2019.

“We often call vehicle burglaries crimes of opportunity, since they typically occur when criminals take advantage of residents who don’t lock their vehicles,” said Sheriff Whittington.  “In 2019, our L.O.C. (L – Lock; O – Observe; C – Call) campaign encouraged residents to lock their doors, observe their surroundings, and call and report suspicious activity.  It worked.”

Vehicle burglaries were also down due to the implementation of the JCAT program – Joint Criminal Apprehension Team – in which deputies with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Bossier City Police Department coordinate their efforts to conduct proactive criminal patrol in the city as well as the roads and neighborhoods throughout Bossier Parish.   Additionally, continued traffic stops by patrol deputies provide increased visibility in the parish.  Sheriff Whittington also commends the efforts of our residents who take actions which contributed to this decrease in vehicle burglaries.

“Having low crime rates in Bossier Parish is a result of many factors,” said Sheriff Whittington.  “Our dedicated team of deputies, staff members and volunteers here at the Bossier Sheriff’s Office do an incredible job in fighting crime. But it’s also our concerned residents who actively participate in keeping their community safe.”

Note:  These crime statistics are for Bossier Parish and the unincorporated portions of the parish and do not include the city limits of Bossier City, Benton, Haughton and Plain Dealing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Lt. Bill Davis, Public Information Officer

Office:  935-2053