The first meeting of the new Shreveport Police Department Advisory Council was held today. Ten of the 17 members were in attendance; only one of these was white. Of the seven not in attendance, four members are (presumably) white.
The handout provided to the council members states that membership of the council should be reflective of the racial make-up of the community.
Here is the list of those in attendance:
1. Breka Peoples--community activist
2. Don Howard--BPCC workforce development
3. A.J. Dunn--YWCA
4. National Adams--Caddo Schools
5. Tim Magner--Shreveport Chamber
6. Monica Wright--Caddo Council on Aging
7. Robert Tyler--Best 13
8. Michael Hicks--Mt. Canaan Church
9. Devonye Brown--SUSLA
10. Kalli Combs--African American Chamber of Commerce
Those members not in attendance:
a. Bobby Collins--Shreveport Housing Authority
b. Kim Mitchell--Community Renewal
c. Mike Riordan--Shreveport Citizens United
d. Latoria Thomas--United Way
e. Pastor Roosevelt Seaberry--Union Springs Church
f. Doug Efferson--affiliation unknown
g. Nick Johnson--affiliation unknown
The facilitators advised that 25 was an ideal membership number. Those in attendance were requested to nominate other people.
This council will have another six to eight meetings.