Shreveport Academy Graduates 96th Basic Training Class
New Shreveport police recruits completed training at the Shreveport Police Regional Training Academy during a Thursday morning ceremony.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The Shreveport Police Regional Training Academy graduated its 96th Basic Training Class on Thursday morning. Chief Wayne Smith, U.S. Marshal Brian Barber and Mayor Tom Arceneaux attended the ceremony, where class president Jayla Gilmore spoke for the graduates.
Why it matters
The graduation adds a new group of trained officers to the Shreveport Police Department, a Louisiana city where local law enforcement staffing directly affects residents. The ceremony's emphasis on community service and professional standards reflects the training priorities the academy presents to new recruits.
The 96th Basic Training Class completed its training and graduated on Thursday morning, marking the academy's latest numbered class. The source does not specify the class size or assignment details for the graduates.
The players
Wayne Smith
Shreveport Police Chief, who addressed the new officers at the graduation ceremony.
Brian Barber
U.S. Marshal who addressed the graduates at the ceremony.
Tom Arceneaux
Mayor of Shreveport, who attended the graduation event.
The details
Speeches at the ceremony emphasized community service, professional standards and peer support for the recruits. Class president Jayla Gilmore spoke on behalf of the graduating class, while Chief Wayne Smith and U.S. Marshal Brian Barber addressed the new officers.
Timeline
Thursday morning: the 96th Basic Training Class graduation ceremony was held at the Shreveport Police Regional Training Academy.
Legal Context
The academy's numbered Basic Training Class series, now at its 96th class, tracks the continuous pipeline of recruits entering the Shreveport Police Department. This graduation extends that sequence without the source indicating any change in its structure or standards.
Shreveport residents may see newly trained officers join the department's patrol and community functions in the coming period. The source does not specify assignments or deployment timelines for the graduates.
The takeaway
Graduations like this one add trained officers to local departments, and the community service and professional standards emphasized at the ceremony signal the priorities new recruits are taught from the start.
Further reading
For more on police operations, see Law Enforcement coverage in Shreveport.
