Changes

==Career==

==Career==

In 1973, Prator became a Shreveport police officer. In 1990, Hazel Beard, Steve Prator's aunt and the first of only two Republican [[mayor]]s of Shreveport since Reconstruction, named Prator chief of police, an appointive position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prator.org/|title=Caddo Sheriff Support|publisher=prator.org|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> In 1999, he stepped down as police chief to run for sheriff, when the incumbent Donald Edgar "Don" Hathaway, Sr., did not seek a sixth four-year in office. Prator was elected to the first of his thus far four terms in that position. In that first campaign, Prator led with 37,739 votes (70.5 percent), compared to 13,858 (25.9 percent) for the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Marshall W. Nelson, and 1,921 votes (3.6 percent) for the No-Party candidate, Robert N. Creamer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_09.html|title=Primary election returns, October 23, 1999|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Creamer again ran against Prator in 2003.<ref name=duvernay>Adam Duvernay, "Prator's 10th anniversary", ''The Shreveport Times'', July 25, 2011.</ref>

In 1973, Prator became a Shreveport police officer. In 1990, Hazel F. Beard, Steve Prator's aunt and the first of only two Republican [[mayor]]s of Shreveport since Reconstruction, named Prator chief of police, an appointive position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prator.org/|title=Caddo Sheriff Support|publisher=prator.org|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> In 1999, he stepped down as police chief to run for sheriff, when the incumbent Donald Edgar "Don" Hathaway, Sr., did not seek a sixth four-year in office. Prator was elected to the first of his thus far four terms in that position. In that first campaign, Prator led with 37,739 votes (70.5 percent), compared to 13,858 (25.9 percent) for the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Marshall W. Nelson, and 1,921 votes (3.6 percent) for the No-Party candidate, Robert N. Creamer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_09.html|title=Primary election returns, October 23, 1999|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Creamer again ran against Prator in 2003.<ref name=duvernay>Adam Duvernay, "Prator's 10th anniversary", ''The Shreveport Times'', July 25, 2011.</ref>

Prator's term began on July 1, 2000, when Don Hathaway retired after twenty years as sheriff.  Upon taking office, Prator streamlined certain operations and saved $3 million in expenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caddohistory.com/about_sheriffs_4.html|title=About our Sheriffs|publisher=caddohistory.com|author=[[Eric Brock]]|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Prator introduced "community-oriented policing" and developed a network of volunteer programs. He opened the first centers to deal with juvenile truancy, including a temporary holding facility.<ref name=bio/> He supported the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in public schools, which Hathaway had first instituted in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caddosheriff.org/content.php?c=105|title=D.A.R.E.|publisher=caddosheriff.org|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> Prator established bicycle patrols, neighborhood watch teams, and a drug interdiction unit. He developed a work-release program for inmates at the Caddo Correctional Center.<ref name=bio/>  

Prator's term began on July 1, 2000, when Don Hathaway retired after twenty years as sheriff.  Upon taking office, Prator streamlined certain operations and saved $3 million in expenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caddohistory.com/about_sheriffs_4.html|title=About our Sheriffs|publisher=caddohistory.com|author=[[Eric Brock]]|accessdate=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Prator introduced "community-oriented policing" and developed a network of volunteer programs. He opened the first centers to deal with juvenile truancy, including a temporary holding facility.<ref name=bio/> He supported the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in public schools, which Hathaway had first instituted in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caddosheriff.org/content.php?c=105|title=D.A.R.E.|publisher=caddosheriff.org|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> Prator established bicycle patrols, neighborhood watch teams, and a drug interdiction unit. He developed a work-release program for inmates at the Caddo Correctional Center.<ref name=bio/>  

In August 2018, Prator again criticized Governor John Bel Edwards' early release of numerous state prisoners under the "Justice Reinvestment Program." According to Prator, several crimes that he considers violent are now classified as non-violent. He also objects to the reduction in penalties for several violent offenses, including "a home invasion with a weapon." What earlier meant a five-year minimum sentence regarding a home invasion, the Edwards changes allow a one-year minimum sentence, followed by the offer of [[probation]] to the offender.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-highly-critical-of-prison-reform-efforts/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator highly critical of prison-reform efforts|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref> As the disagreement with Prator escalated, Edwards stopped the pending appointment of Mrs. Prator to the Caddo Parish seat on the Red River Waterway board of commissioners formerly held by the late [[Rogers M. Prestridge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/2018/08/16/gov-edwards-plays-politics-denies-caddo-waterway-commission-seat/1008148002/|title=Gov. Edwards plays politics to deny Caddo Parish a waterway commission seat|author=John E. Settle, Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 16, 2018|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> On August 30, Prator again questioned Edwards' criminal justice policies in an appearance on ''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', a statewide [[radio]] broadcast.

In August 2018, Prator again criticized Governor John Bel Edwards' early release of numerous state prisoners under the "Justice Reinvestment Program." According to Prator, several crimes that he considers violent are now classified as non-violent. He also objects to the reduction in penalties for several violent offenses, including "a home invasion with a weapon." What earlier meant a five-year minimum sentence regarding a home invasion, the Edwards changes allow a one-year minimum sentence, followed by the offer of [[probation]] to the offender.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-highly-critical-of-prison-reform-efforts/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator highly critical of prison-reform efforts|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref> As the disagreement with Prator escalated, Edwards stopped the pending appointment of Mrs. Prator to the Caddo Parish seat on the Red River Waterway board of commissioners formerly held by the late [[Rogers M. Prestridge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/2018/08/16/gov-edwards-plays-politics-denies-caddo-waterway-commission-seat/1008148002/|title=Gov. Edwards plays politics to deny Caddo Parish a waterway commission seat|author=John E. Settle, Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 16, 2018|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> On August 30, Prator again questioned Edwards' criminal justice policies in an appearance on ''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', a statewide [[radio]] broadcast.

==References==

==References==