SPD promotes first African-American female to Assistant Chief of Police
By Ronald Collins, Jr.
Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw stands with newly promoted Assistant Chief of Police Eloise J. Lewis at Fridays event. (Photo: Ronald Collins, Jr.)
A standing room only crowd filled the assembly Room of the Shreveport Police Department on Friday. Family, friends and a host of police department personnel were there in support of the department’s latest Promotion Ceremony, where six officers were promoted.
Corporals Manuel Rosado and Duane H. Farquhar were promoted to Sergeant.
Sergeants David T. Perkins and Tobey S. Meeler were promoted to Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Michael A. Kellum was promoted to Captain; and of particular note Captain Eloise J. Lewis became the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief of Police.
A 34-year veteran of the department, Assistant Chief of Police Lewis projected a humble, yet determined, demeanor during the ceremony. Commanding the respect of her colleagues in the department, her promotion was met with resounding applause.
Lewis will head up the Investigations Division for the entire department including homicides, burglaries, sex crimes, OSI (Open Source Investigations), vice and all other classifications. Lewis has previous experience with investigations having served in the department during her time as a captain.
“I feel overjoyed right now,” Assistant Chief of Police, Lewis said shortly after the ceremony. “All the way through this journey God was always first. From the teaching of God’s word from my pastor, there were three words that he would always sing, ‘He is all right.’ This is what encouraged me and made me stronger to go through the valleys and helping me make to make the decision in what I am supposed to do in this department. I am so overwhelmed right now because my dream has turned into a reality. I first imagined this position, I even dreamed of it. This is my season and I made it through.”
Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw said, “I am always encouraged on these days, because they are so few and far between, that we can actually get a positive deal. Where people are in the right frame of mind for the right reasons. Where we realize that we have worked very hard to get where we are. I expect nothing but the best from everybody that has been promoted today. I know that we have had some trying times. However we are forging our way through them anyway. People expect us to be perfect in an imperfect world. I only ask that you do the very best that you can do, and then nobody can blame you anyway or how as you get this job done. It has been said before and bears saying again that you need to always keep God first, then your family, then this job.”
Near the conclusion of the ceremony, family members of the six promoted police department personnel participated in a pinning ceremony.
Corporals Manuel Rosado and Duane H. Farquhar were promoted to Sergeant.
Sergeants David T. Perkins and Tobey S. Meeler were promoted to Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Michael A. Kellum was promoted to Captain; and of particular note Captain Eloise J. Lewis became the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief of Police.
A 34-year veteran of the department, Assistant Chief of Police Lewis projected a humble, yet determined, demeanor during the ceremony. Commanding the respect of her colleagues in the department, her promotion was met with resounding applause.
Lewis will head up the Investigations Division for the entire department including homicides, burglaries, sex crimes, OSI (Open Source Investigations), vice and all other classifications. Lewis has previous experience with investigations having served in the department during her time as a captain.
“I feel overjoyed right now,” Assistant Chief of Police, Lewis said shortly after the ceremony. “All the way through this journey God was always first. From the teaching of God’s word from my pastor, there were three words that he would always sing, ‘He is all right.’ This is what encouraged me and made me stronger to go through the valleys and helping me make to make the decision in what I am supposed to do in this department. I am so overwhelmed right now because my dream has turned into a reality. I first imagined this position, I even dreamed of it. This is my season and I made it through.”
Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw said, “I am always encouraged on these days, because they are so few and far between, that we can actually get a positive deal. Where people are in the right frame of mind for the right reasons. Where we realize that we have worked very hard to get where we are. I expect nothing but the best from everybody that has been promoted today. I know that we have had some trying times. However we are forging our way through them anyway. People expect us to be perfect in an imperfect world. I only ask that you do the very best that you can do, and then nobody can blame you anyway or how as you get this job done. It has been said before and bears saying again that you need to always keep God first, then your family, then this job.”
Near the conclusion of the ceremony, family members of the six promoted police department personnel participated in a pinning ceremony.