Shreveport, La. – On Monday morning, a coalition of federal, state and local law‑enforcement leaders announced the creation of the Gator Task Force, a new multi‑agency initiative designed to curb violent crime and drug trafficking throughout North Louisiana.
The press conference, held at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Shreveport, was hosted by U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller and the FBI New Orleans Field Office. Governor Jeff Landry attended alongside senior officials from the FBI, ATF, Louisiana State Police, and local sheriff’s offices.
Task force goals and resources
The Gator Task Force will concentrate federal resources on three core objectives: aggressively pursuing violent offenders, apprehending fugitives, and dismantling street gangs that fuel drug distribution. Officials emphasized that the coordinated approach is intended to restore public safety quickly and sustainably through joint operations and intelligence sharing.
Key speakers at the event included Keller, Governor Landry, FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp, ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Frank Besson, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith, Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn, Sr., and Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart.
Supporting agencies
In addition to the primary law‑enforcement partners, the task force will receive support from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Division of Probation and Parole, and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. The broad participation underscores a shared commitment to protecting families and neighborhoods from the scourge of violent crime.
Governor Landry highlighted the importance of a unified response, noting that “our communities deserve safe streets, and this task force brings together the best of our federal and state resources to make that a reality.” U.S. Attorney Keller added that the initiative reflects a “proactive, results‑oriented strategy” that will leverage the expertise of each agency to target the most dangerous criminal networks.
Impact on local communities
Residents of Shreveport, Bossier City, and surrounding parishes can expect increased patrols, joint task‑force operations, and rapid response teams focused on high‑risk areas. By concentrating investigative efforts and sharing intelligence across jurisdictional lines, officials aim to reduce violent incidents, disrupt drug supply chains, and bring fugitives to justice more efficiently.
The Gator Task Force will issue regular updates on its progress, including arrest statistics, seizure totals, and community outreach efforts. Local leaders encourage citizens to report suspicious activity and cooperate with investigators to help achieve the task force’s safety goals.
For more information, the press conference will be livestreamed on KTBS+ and a summary of the initiative will be posted on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
