(By Emilee Calametti/The Center Square) – While there are still areas of concern for the Shreveport Police Department, violent crime is trending down overall with some offenses 50% lower over the past five years.

A significant decrease was reported in shootings, shots fired calls and homicides compared to the same time period last year in this week’s year-to-date crime report.

There have been 150 shootings this year in Shreveport. Last year, the department reported 204 during the same time period, and in 2021, the city had 334. There has been more than 50% reduction in shootings over the last five years and a 26% decrease since last year.

Reported year-to-date shots fired calls were 1,412 as of this month, compared to 1,757 this time last year – a 20% decrease. The biggest decrease compares data to 2021, when the department reported 3,267 shots fired calls year to date.

Twenty-five homicides have been reported. However, the department has 27 on record, but only 25 of those are criminal homicides. When looking at data from last year, the department reported 40 homicides, showing a 27.5% decrease. The department experienced a spike in homicides in 2023 with 61 year to date, nearly double from 2022 when there were 34. In 2021, there were 63 homicides in the city during the same time period.

While overall violent crime is steadily trending down, there are still areas of concern, including sex crimes and vehicle thefts.

“One thing that has been very concerning to us is the consistent increase in sex crimes,” said Police Chief Wayne Smith. “Even though it’s a slight increase, a 6% increase, we don’t know whether that’s contributed to actual offenses occurring, more offenses being reported to us or our investigators.”

This year, there have been 351 cases, 22 more than last year.

Smith said the increase could also be the department’s investigators taking on more cases.

The department reported slightly higher vehicle theft cases, with 839 this year versus 833 last year. Specific figures for the last two months have a significant increase in vehicle thefts in the city compared to last year.

Campaigns to raise awareness with residents about vehicle theft are in the works, reminding them to lock their vehicles and not leave keys in the cars. This campaign has resulted in a decrease over the past 15 days.

Armed robberies, burglaries, vehicle burglaries and carjackings are down from the previous year.