Lt. Governor Billy Nungessor will meet with Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux Friday to help resolve issues concerning their Mardi Gras parade schedules due to a shortage of law enforcement. Nungessor says he has made a request to Governor Edwards to help the city work out security issues.
“That they would lend state police like they do in New Orleans. If we could lend a hand in New Orleans, we should be able to lend a hand in any other municipality that needs state police to carry out Mardi Gras.”
Arceneaux has suggested changing the dates and times to keep the city’s two largest parades, the Krewe of Centaur and the Krewe of Gemini from rolling after dark. His concern comes after a 17-year-old from Texas was fatally wounded during the Krewe of Gemini this year.
The mayor has asked Centaur to move their parade from February 3rd to February 4th. Nungessor says he recently promoted Shreveport’s Mardi Gras while on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. He says this decision could potentially impact Louisiana tourism.
“When you give those travel consultants a parade schedule and show them all the fun people are going to have and then they’re already booking and planning trips and people get here and find out the parade is two weeks later that’s a problem.”
Nungessor says the Mayor is looking to hire 60 additional officers.
“And I’ve been reaching out to some of the potential next governor candidates and asking if they’ll consider making a commitment that they would help with state police if they are elected.”
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