Willis-Knighton Health System awarded a major grant to the Shreveport Police Department at the Shreveport City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Willis-Knighton’s chief administrative officer, Brian Crawford, presented the check to Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond.

The health system’s check for $48,237.03 will purchase a replacement vehicle for the police department’s Special Response Team (SRT). The response team’s current transport vehicle, known as a jump van, is a 2003 model and is no longer reliable.

“The Special Response Team participates in well over 100 operations per year during the execution of high risk search and arrest warrants, hostage rescues, barricaded persons, as well as other specialized functions,” says Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond. “A 17-year-old van that transports between 10 and 15 fully equipped operators and all of their equipment takes quite a bit of abuse.”

Raymond says a new van will ensure the SRT has reliable transportation when literally seconds count.

“Willis-Knighton Health System is proud to support the efforts of our local law enforcement to protect the communities our patients and employees call home,” says James K. Elrod, president and CEO of Willis-Knighton Health System. “Safety and security contribute to the quality of life in our community. We are committed to providing resources to the Shreveport Police Department and the officers who sacrifice in their service to others.”   

This grant is funded through Willis-Knighton’s tithe the bottom line philosophy of philanthropy which allocates a portion of health system profits to support community projects and initiatives.