Henry Whitehorn is touting his administrative and law enforcement experience on the campaign trail to be elected Caddo Sheriff. He cites his service as the Shreveport Police Department (SPD) chief and his tenure as Shreveport chief administrative officer (CFO) as a candidate qualifications. Both of these tenures bear close scrutiny along with his sheriff campaign.
Whitehorn served as the Shreveport Police Chief for then mayor Cedric Glover from Aug. 2007 until July 2010. Presumably his last patrol in a police car was in July 2010, some thirteen (plus) years ago.
Whitehorn says that crime was at an all-time low when he was SPD Chief. What he does not say that crime nationwide was down during that term and that SPD had more officers then, than now.
Whitehorn served as then mayor Adrian Perkins' chief administrative officer (CAO) from February 2020 until December 2022.
During this term he failed to rectify the Shreveport water/sewer billings which were subject of successful class action lawsuits. After the litigation was concluded the City implemented a new billing system that still has overbilling according to attorney Jerry Harper. The Perkins' administration was advised of this practice by an April 2021 letter from Harper.
Whitehorn also failed to put six ad valorem tax renewals for street repair, public safety uniforms and equipment on any election ballots while CAO. The Arceneaux administration discovered that the renewals expired in July 2023. Mayor Arceneaux was able to have the renewals successfully passed on the April 2023 special election. These millages generated approximately $11.5 million that had been allocated in the budget passed by the Perkins' administration while Whitehorn was CAO.
In his last year as CAO, the City misapplied $30 million in American Rescue Funds to the City's surplus account. Now Mayor Tom Arceneaux had to reverse this action. This major accounting error resulted in an inaccurate surplus reported by Perkins’ administration.
In his sheriff campaign Whitehorn says he has a plan to reduce crime in the parish, and especially in the Shreveport city limits. He has not detailed the plan and apparently, he did not share the plan or his law enforcement experience with SPD Chief Wayne Smith in an effort to reduce Shreveport crime.
Shreveport's murder and overall crime increased substantially while Whitehorn was CAO.
Whitehorn recently filed a false campaign financial report with the Louisiana Ethics Administration. He failed to report over $35,000 in campaign expenses. After a complaint was filed Whitehorn filed an amended report.
His latest campaign finance report reflects over $50,000 in contributions from persons/entities outside of Caddo Parish. Since his campaign started last year, Whitehorn has received contributions from out of parish donors exceeding $90,000. Roy Griggs has now donated a total of $45,000 to Whitehorn's election campaign.
Whitehorn owes political favors to former mayor Cedric Glover who appointed him SPD Chief and former mayor Adrian Perkins who appointed him CAO. Both Glover and Perkins need real jobs and rumor has it that Whitehorn will put them on his staff along with former legal counsel/chief of staff Shanerika Flemings.
Former Sheriff candidate/former constable Eric Hatfield has endorsed Whitehorn and is actively campaigning and working for Whitehorn. Hatfield is rumored to be named as chief criminal deputy if Whitehorn wins the election.
Whitehorn, who will be 70 this year, lives in a gated community on Cross Lake next to Lynn Braggs, his best friend and confidant. Braggs has been connected to the sale of defective water meters to the Glover administration and to other questionable transactions with the City of Shreveport. Braggs is frequently in attendance at Whitehorn campaign events.
There are many questions about Whitehorn's prior public service with the City of Shreveport and his campaign. Unfortunately, Whitehorn has failed to appear at candidate forums during the pending March 23 Sheriff election. Additionally, he has not been responsive to media questions since the November run-off election which was voided by court order.