![Louisiana police department to stop hosting prayer vigils](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2018/10/Shreveport-Police-vehicle-Facebook.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Louisiana police department to stop hosting prayer vigils
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Prayer vigils will no longer be hosted or promoted by police in Shreveport, Louisiana.
That's according to City Attorney William Bradford, in response to a letter from a national nonprofit that advocates for the separation of church and state.
The Shreveport Times reports that the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote Shreveport Police Chief Alan Crump in August saying that hosting the vigils suggests the department "prefers religion over nonreligion," thereby violating the Constitution.
Bradford says officers still can attend vigils independently.
The police chief is also a pastor at the Republican Missionary Baptist Church, and police spokeswoman Cpl. Angie Willhite confirms that all 15 of the department's volunteer chaplains are Christian. The letter also asked the department to end its chaplain program. Bradford says Shreveport doesn't plan on doing that.
___
Information from: The Times, http://www.shreveporttimes.com
All contents © copyright 2018 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Truck Crashes Through Louisiana Convenience Store, Injuries Unknown](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-451428443_875361657961063_9009058308210370374_n.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lafayette Police Seek Public’s Help in Identifying iPad Theft Suspect](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-15T194605.280.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Alleged Donald Trump Shooter Spotted Nearly 30 Minutes Before Shots Fired](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161431349.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![WATCH: Would This Viral ‘Texas Gumbo’ Pass a South Louisiana Inspection?](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/12/attachment-Texas-Gumbo-Pepper-Belly-Pete.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Donald Trump Has Made His Vice Presidential Pick](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2159730000.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![CHECK IT OUT: You Can Rent This Awesome Tower in New Iberia, Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-new-iberia-airbnb-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Wins $100,000 With Lottery Strategy From Watching ‘Lottery Changed My Life’](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/04/attachment-giorgio-trovato-BRl69uNXr7g-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana to be Prominently Featured at Republican National Convention](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-RNC-LOGO.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Earthquake Centered Near New York City Rattles Northeast](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2018/07/E4J7DD.jpg?w=980&q=75)