EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the published announcement of a candidate for office in accordance with the guidelines of this newspaper. Any candidate is afforded the same opportunity.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper announced today his candidacy to seek re-election in the 2018 election of the City of Minden’s Chief of Police.
Cropper, a 31-year law enforcement veteran and current City of Minden Chief of Police, stated his objective will be to continue building upon the existing foundation of the Minden Police Department by further advancing its effectiveness, community orientation and funding efficiency.
Since 1986, Cropper has served the citizens of Webster Parish and the citizens of Minden through three administrations in the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department and through two terms as Minden’s Chief of Police.
“My Law Enforcement career began as most do, in Corrections with the Sheriff’s Office, and through the next 23 years, I worked my way through Dispatch, Patrol, and Investigations,” Cropper said. “I retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 with the rank of Major. In 2010, I was elected Minden’s Chief of Police.”
During his time in law enforcement, Cropper has resided in Webster Parish and in Minden, where he now lives with his wife, Kathy. He moved to Webster Parish from El Dorado, Ark. in 1978, pursuing his prior career in restaurant management. Cropper then began his family and is the father of three children: Laci Cropper, of Minden, Steven S. Cropper, of Camden, Ark., Amber Cropper Pauley, of El Dorado, Ark., and step-daughter, Jessica Curtis Hammons, of Haughton, La.
Before his move to Louisiana, Cropper resided In Enid, Oklahoma, his place of birth and location of his collegiate experience. It was the food industry that led him to Arkansas, then to Louisiana.
“My experience with the Sonic Drive-In franchise prepared me with experience in financial and personnel management,” said Cropper.
When Cropper began his law enforcement career, he earned his Peace Officer Standards and Training credentials at the Bossier Parish Community College Police Academy. Since that time, he has attended a number of training programs in narcotics enforcement, criminal investigation, patrol procedures and standards, and upper level management, continuing his training yearly.
“I am a member of the Louisiana Chief of Police Association, which requires a mandated 12 hours of continued education yearly,” said Cropper.
“Since becoming your Chief of Police In 2011, I put together an updated Policy and Procedure manual issued to every Minden Police officer. We changed from an 8-hour shift to a rotating 12-hour shift, which places more officers on the streets of Minden at any given time. We now have six part-time dispatchers, which allows the Supervisors to be out on the street supervising the officers. The Minden Police Department has struggled with hiring and keeping good qualified police officers. We have lost some fine Police Officers to neighboring agencies, mainly due to Minden’s pay scale. Recently the City of Minden gave an across the board pay raise, which I feel has helped tremendously. The Police Department is at this point in time close to being fully staffed.”
During this past four years in office, the Minden Police Department has applied for and been awarded $85,500.00 in Grant Funding.
“These funds have been used to purchase additional equipment and overtime,” said Cropper.
Chief Cropper and his wife Kathy are members of the First United Methodist Church of Minden.
Cropper is a Board Member of the Webster Parish E-911, a Board Member of the Webster Parish Branch of GOHSEP, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness, a member of the Louisiana Chief of Police Association, a member of the North Chiefs of Police Association, a member of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, a member of the Louisiana Narcotic Officers Association, a member of the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Minden Lions Club.
“Minden has a very low crime rate, Minden is a sale City, and Minden is a great place to raise your children and grandchildren, and I want to help keep Minden the place it is today,” Cropper said. “I would very much appreciate the opportunity to continue working as your Chief of Police.”