$11.5 million Bossier Sheriff's new criminal operations facility: 'Not a need for voter approval'
Plus: Investigation into inmate death at Bossier Max. New Central Library opens.
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$11.5 million Bossier Parish Sheriff's new criminal operations facility: 'Not a need for voter approval'
The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office is flush with cash — and Sheriff Julian Whittington has decided to spend some of it.
Reports of an $11.5 million criminal operations building being built in Benton have been confirmed, and BossierNow has obtained new details.
Lt. Matt Gaydos, BPSO public information officer, quickly responded to our inquiries about the new facility. He told us that the Sheriff's office purchased the former bank building being renovated and expanded in 2010 for $1.1 million.
"The renovation and expansion of the building is being funded with surplus funds that have been saved for this project since Sheriff Whittington took office," Lt. Gaydos said. "There was not a need for voter approval for this project."
Other details:
The Sheriff determined that the expansion was required because "there is a need for more space for the various divisions that are housed in the building and for a general upgrade due to the building being originally built sometime in the 1970s."
Design work began in January 2021; the project bid date was September 6, 2023, and the contract date was November 14, 2023.
The divisions housed in the building will include Patrol, Patrol Administration, Traffic Unit, K-9 Unit, Detectives, Cell Phone Forensics Unit, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Evidence and Property Management.
The cell phone forensics lab and crime scene investigation lab will also be upgraded.
"Although the Bossier City Marshal's Office has handled some cell phone forensic investigations, the Bossier Sheriff's Office has been working these types of cases since 2009," Lt. Gaydos said.
"Some of our investigators were originally part of a task force that helped the City Marshal's Office with the caseload for these types of cases in our area," he added. "We then began training our own investigators in this specialized area and have independently investigated hundreds of these types of cases over the years and assist other local agencies with their cases.
"Almost every criminal case involves a cell phone these days."
Sheriff investigating prisoner who died in custody at Bossier Max
The death of an inmate held at the Bossier Maximum Security Facility is being investigated.
Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington says an inmate died on March 6, 2024, after experiencing a medical issue. Jerry McCoy, 35, of Bossier City, was found unresponsive in his cell. Medical personnel began performing CPR, but McCoy did not respond, BPSO says.
Detectives initiated an investigation in conjunction with the Bossier Parish Coroner's Office and are awaiting toxicology and autopsy results.
Bossier Parish Central Library opens
The books have been packed up, lugged down the street, unpacked and put on the shelves — and the new Bossier Parish Central Library is now open. And all of that took only three days to accomplish.
The 39,000-square-foot library has a 3-D printer, sewing machines, embroidery machines, and a music and film studio.
And you thought there were just books, right?
The new Bossier Parish Central Library is located at 850 City Hall Drive in Bossier City. Hours are Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The library is closed on Sundays.
Bossier City traffic hassles
The southbound outside (right) lane of LA 3 (Benton Road) remains closed from Melrose Avenue to Citizens Bank Drive in Bossier City. This lane closure is scheduled to last approximately four weeks and is necessary to allow the contractor for the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project to continue construction on the new roadway that will connect to Benton Road.
Beginning on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 7:00 a.m., the outside (right) lane of US 80 eastbound from Butler Street to Hamilton Road in Bossier City will be closed. This lane closure is scheduled to last approximately six weeks and is necessary to allow the City of Bossier City’s contractor to make improvements to Hamilton Road at US 80 as part of the ongoing Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music and notable events for your consideration.
March 16: The Wilder Blue brings their harmonious collective sound to Louisiana Grandstand.
March 17: Winter Jam at the BGA.
March 22: Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top at the BGA.
March 22: Jason Boland returns with his full band, Delectric Tour, to Louisiana Grandstand.
March 23: Country Music Hall of Famer Marty Stuart brings his world-class band, The Fabulous Superlatives, to Louisiana Grandstand.
March 24: The Love Hard Tour: Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz & Jaheim at the BGA.
April 12: Shreveport Blues Festival: Tucka, King George & Pokey Bear at the BGA.
April 15: The Harlem Globetrotters at the BGA.
April 20: Hank Williams Jr. at the BGA.
May 17: Marc Broussard and his father, Ted, return to the Louisiana Grandstand. Last year, they packed the house and had an unforgettable show. They'll bring another instrumentalist or two with them this year for an even bigger show.
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