Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: November 13, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Campbell retires

Chief Mike Campbell has announced he is retiring, effective today. 

Campbell, who has been with the Shreveport Police Department since March of 1974, served as chief for about 3 1/2 years. With Mayor Keith Hightower by his side, he read from his letter of retirement.

"As I close the book on nearly 33 years of service in law enforcement to the citizens of Shreveport, I would be remiss in not thanking both you and this community for the opportunity of a lifetime," he said. "The experiences emblazoned in my mind cover the spectrum from the indomitable power of the human spirit in the most horrible of circumstances, to the great character of the people who make up this community, to the triumph of good over evil. 

"I have experienced the emotional uplift of success, the bitter taste of defeat, the hopeless emptiness of tragedy and the exhilaration of overcoming the odds, and I would not trade these experiences for anything," he said.

Following his remarks, Mayor Hightower thanks Chief Campbell for his leadership that led to the city marking a 25-year low in crime in 2005 and said the city is poised to make that feat a 26-year low by the end of the year.

He then announced that he has appointed Assistant Chief Mike VanSant to serve as interim chief until a new chief is appointed by Mayor-elect Cedric Glover, who takes office Nov. 28.

VanSant has worked at SPD since August of 1977 and has worked in many capacities at the department, including serving the last three years as assistant chief of police. Assignments include patrol, traffic enforcement, police academy instructor, grants and Weed and Seed. He started the grants program for the department and traveled around the nation conducting traffic safety and enforcement training with the National Highway Safety Administration.

VanSant has served under six chiefs and in Mayor Hightower's words is respected by the community, as well as the officers.

VanSant is 51 years old and graduated from Bossier High School in 1973. He has attended college at both LSU-S and Louisiana Tech.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews