A Coordinated Effort to Strengthen Downtown Shreveport
Downtown Shreveport is taking action.
Operation: SEE, SIGN & SECURE brings together THREE strategic areas of activation:
Together, these efforts are intended to address both the conditions affecting Downtown Shreveport and the public perception of those conditions.
Partners
Operation: SEE SIGN SECURE
Technology. Awareness. Response.
Operation: SEE expands the use of public safety technology throughout Downtown Shreveport to create a more proactive approach to identifying and responding to activity that may affect public safety.
Initial funding for additional technology has been secured and is being deployed in designated areas of downtown. New locations are currently being evaluated and additional funding is being secured for more installations. All will be proactively monitored by the City of Shreveport Real Time Crime Center.
The goal:
- Strengthen situational awareness
- Support law enforcement response
- Identify activity and conditions proactively
- Help reduce crime
- Help address the perception of crime
Technology is one part of a larger strategy designed to help downtown partners and public safety agencies see what is happening, respond more effectively and identify emerging issues earlier.
Operation: SEE SIGN SECURE
Consistency. Accountability. Education.
Operation: SIGN focuses on enhanced and more consistent enforcement of public safety and quality-of-life ordinances and regulations throughout Downtown Shreveport.
Areas of focus include:
- Prohibited open consumption of alcohol outside licensed establishments
- Marijuana consumption where prohibited by state law
- Public nuisance and quality-of-life violations
- Aggressive panhandling
- Other conditions that negatively affect the downtown environment
Enforcement & Education
Effective enforcement is strengthened when it is paired with education and access to resources.
That’s why Operation: SIGN includes A Better Way Anti-Panhandling, a public-awareness initiative being implemented in partnership with community organizations. A change in community behavior is important as well as the judicious use of law enforcement when necessary for extreme, aggressive and habitual instances of panhandling.
A Better Way
This activation provides the public with a better way to give to individuals experiencing hardship.
Rather than giving directly to individuals panhandling in public spaces, the campaign encourages people who want to help to give with purpose by supporting organizations equipped to provide meaningful assistance, resources and connections to services.
Educational and promotional materials, along with digital resources connecting individuals to appropriate service organizations, will be made readily available and widely distributed.
The objective is not simply to address panhandling. It is to connect people to resources while helping the public understand how they can make a meaningful difference.
Operation: SEE SIGN SECURE
Presence. Partnerships. Permanent Solutions.
Operation: SECURE brings together multiple strategies designed to create both immediate improvements and long-term solutions for Downtown Shreveport.
Two key components are at the center of the initiative:
1. Downtown To Home
Multiple agencies and community organizations, led by HOPE connections, are working together through Downtown To Home (D2H) to address homelessness within Downtown Shreveport.
The initiative is specifically addressing the estimated four dozen unsheltered individuals currently living within the downtown area.
GOAL Secure permanent, safe housing for 90% of the current downtown unsheltered population by September 30, 2027.
D2H recognizes that lasting change requires more than moving people from one location to another. It requires connecting individuals with housing, services and the resources necessary to support permanent outcomes.
2. Downtown Public Safety Initiative (DPSI)
A More Visible Presence Downtown
Designed to enhance public safety through a highly visible, proactive and professionally managed security patrol operating in coordination with law enforcement. It is intended to provide a consistent presence throughout areas where businesses, residents, employees and visitors interact every day.
THE OPERATING AREA WILL INCLUDE:
- Key commercial corridors
- Gateway locations
- Public spaces
- High-density business areas
- Entertainment venues
- Riverfront and trail areas
- Parking facilities
- Adjacent pedestrian routes
Why A Visible Presence Matters
Downtown Shreveport requires a security approach that addresses both actual public safety concerns and the public’s perception of safety.
Conditions such as these can affect the experience of businesses, residents, employees, visitors, property owners and event attendees:
- Suspicious activity
- Visible disorder
- Poorly lit areas
- Maintenance concerns
- Parking-area activity
- Pedestrian safety issues
- Event-related crowd movement
A consistent, seven-day-per-week security presence staffed by well-trained, highly mobile personnel can help identify these conditions early, report them through appropriate channels and support a safer, more welcoming downtown environment.
DPSI: WHAT IT WILL DO
Provide an additional, visible layer of security throughout the downtown area.
Initial operations will include:
Visible, uniformed, certified personnel
Utilizing marked patrol assets throughout the designated operating area.
Business & Visitor Engagement
Routine interaction with businesses, employees, residents and visitors.
Incident Documentation
Documenting observed conditions and activities through established reporting procedures.
Daily & Monthly Reporting
Providing measurable activity reports to help identify trends, challenges and opportunities.
Supervisor Oversight
Maintaining accountability and consistency through professional supervision.
Clear Escalation Procedures
Connecting observed concerns to the appropriate law enforcement, medical, maintenance or quality-of-life response.
An Important Distinction
DPSI Supplements. It Does Not Replace Law Enforcement.
Supplementing the authority and responsibilities of the:
- Shreveport Police Department
- Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office
- City Marshal personnel
- Other public-safety agencies operating within Downtown Shreveport
PROGRESS
A stronger downtown takes continued effort, collaboration, and accountability. Operation SEE, SIGN & SECURE is focused on turning coordinated action into measurable progress.
From public safety technology and proactive enforcement to community outreach and housing connections, tracking results helps demonstrate what is happening, where progress is being made and where additional work is needed.
As implementation continues, this section will provide updates on the activities, milestones and outcomes helping move Downtown Shreveport forward.
SEE:
Expanding Public Safety Intelligence
More Awareness. Better Information. Coordinated Response.
Technology provides public safety partners with additional tools to monitor activity, identify potential concerns and support investigations.
SECURE:
Connecting Individuals With Lasting Solutions
Outreach That Creates Opportunities for Stability.
Addressing homelessness requires more than short-term intervention. It requires coordinated outreach, access to services, and pathways to stable housing.
Through partnerships with HOPE Connections and other community organizations, SECURE is working to connect individuals with the resources and support needed to move toward greater stability.
of our unsheltered population has already been moved to a better situation.
FAQ
Understanding Operation SEE, SIGN & SECURE.
Learn more about the initiative, its purpose and how the three components work together to support Downtown Shreveport.
What is Operation SEE, SIGN & SECURE?
Operation SEE, SIGN & SECURE is a coordinated community initiative designed to address public safety, quality-of-life concerns and homelessness in Downtown Shreveport.
The initiative brings together technology, proactive enforcement, public education and community outreach through three complementary strategies: SEE, SIGN and SECURE.
Why are these three initiatives being combined?
Downtown challenges are interconnected and often require more than one response.
Technology can help identify potential concerns, consistent enforcement can reinforce community standards, and coordinated outreach can connect individuals with the resources they need.
By bringing these efforts together, the initiative creates a more comprehensive approach to addressing immediate concerns while working toward longer-term improvements.
What does SEE stand for?
SEE focuses on technology and proactive public safety intelligence.
Through tools such as the Real Time Crime Center and mobile surveillance units, public safety partners can improve awareness of activity downtown, identify potential concerns and support law enforcement investigations.
How does the Real Time Crime Center work?
The Real Time Crime Center provides a centralized resource for monitoring available camera feeds and coordinating relevant information with law enforcement.
Technology can help identify incidents, provide situational awareness and support investigations. It serves as an additional resource for law enforcement rather than a replacement for officers on the ground.
Does SEE involve surveillance cameras?
Yes. Camera technology is an important component of the SEE initiative.
These resources support public safety monitoring and investigative coordination. Information about camera placement, access, retention and use should be addressed through the applicable policies and procedures of the responsible agencies.
What does SIGN stand for?
SIGN focuses on consistent enforcement, education and quality-of-life initiatives.
The goal is to reinforce community standards, address recurring concerns and help maintain clean, accessible and welcoming public spaces throughout downtown.
What is A Better Way?
A Better Way is a community education and charitable giving initiative that encourages individuals to support established organizations providing services to people experiencing homelessness.
Rather than giving directly in response to panhandling, community members are encouraged to support organizations equipped to provide meaningful assistance and connect individuals with appropriate resources.
What does SECURE stand for?
SECURE focuses on outreach, shelter and permanent housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Through partnerships with HOPE Connections and other service organizations, the initiative works to connect individuals with resources, supportive services and opportunities for greater long-term stability.
How does Downtown to Home work?
Downtown to Home is focused on connecting individuals experiencing homelessness in Downtown Shreveport with outreach, supportive services and housing opportunities.
The effort relies on collaboration between community organizations and service providers to identify needs, establish connections and help individuals move toward stable housing.
Does this initiative replace the work of local nonprofits?
No. Community organizations remain essential partners in addressing homelessness and quality-of-life challenges.
Operation SEE, SIGN & SECURE is designed to strengthen coordination between existing organizations, public safety partners and downtown stakeholders rather than replace the services already being provided.
How are public safety and enforcement efforts coordinated?
The initiative brings together public safety agencies, downtown partners and other participating organizations to improve communication and coordination.
Law enforcement retains its established authority and responsibilities, while additional technology and coordinated resources can provide support for downtown operations.
A Continuing Commitment
“Operation SEE SIGN SECURE represents a coordinated approach to challenges that cannot be addressed through a single one-time action, agency or organization. By combining technology, consistent enforcement, education, public safety presence, community partnerships and pathways to permanent solutions, Downtown Shreveport stakeholders are creating an operating framework focused on visibility, accountability and measurable progress.”
Mayor Tom Arceneaux
City of Shreveport
“This is not a single project. It is an ongoing commitment to seeing the challenges, addressing them with action and securing solutions that move Downtown Shreveport forward. Our downtown reflects our history but also is the heartbeat of Shreveport’s future. Meaningful revitalization efforts don’t begin with grand ideas; they begin with doing the fundamentals exceptionally well.”
Cedric B. Glover
Executive Director, Shreveport Downtown Development Authority
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