Last Friday (Aug.16), a homeless man was chased by four juveniles in the Werner Park neighborhood. The juveniles threw bottles at the man, hitting him and then they murdered him.
Yes--four juveniles murdered a homeless man.
Think about the homeless man who probably had mental challenges. What about his family, if he had one.
Think about the four juveniles--their parents, siblings, friends. Four lives ruined.
The juveniles have been apprehended and are now at the Caddo Juvenile Detention Center. Booking them their necessitated the release of other juveniles charged with serious crimes onto the streets.
The Caddo Commission Juvenile Justice Committee meets tomorrow--Thursday at 1:30 pm. This incident is NOT listed on the agenda.
The Commission constantly ignores the need for an additional pod at the Juvenile Detention Center citing operating costs.
The Commission spends approximately $1 million per year funding local organizations--NGOs.
The Commission spends big bucks sending its members to a black official convention and the National Association County Organizations, and even the Washington Mardi Gras. No reports are rendered on the effects of these boondoggles.
The Commission and especially this committee chair Stormy Gage-Watts, likes to parade new social programs like a Youth Planning Commission without addressing basic needs for the criminal justice system.
The Shreveport Police Department is to be commended for the rapid response and the arrests. SPD has done their job.
Commission meetings resemble child's patty cake parties where commissioner pat each other on the back, espouse opinions on non-commission issues, and hand out countless resolutions of recognition.
It’s time--NOT long past time--for the Caddo Commission to focus on NEEDS not WANTS.