SHREVEPORT, La. -- When Gov. Jeff Landry formally asked the federal government to send National Guard troops to Louisiana this week, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux found himself in a familiar position: preparing to manage the consequences of a decision he didn't make.

Arceneaux said his only discussions with Landry on the matter were brief -- one when the governor was considering the idea weeks ago, and another shortly before the request was announced during a national television appearance.

The mayor insists Shreveport doesn't fit the picture of a city in crisis. Far from it, he said. Homicides are down 20 percent compared to last year, continuing a decline that has nearly halved the city's homicide rate since 2022. Robberies, burglaries and carjackings have also trended lower. And Shreveport police, he noted, close homicide cases at a rate higher than the national average.

"We are not experiencing an increase in violent crime in Shreveport. Quite the opposite," Arceneaux said. "We're a decreasingly violent crime city, and we have a pretty good handle on fighting crime."

Still, he concedes more help could make a difference -- though he envisions that help in the form of long-term investments like higher officer pay, stronger recruiting, and better technology. National Guard soldiers, he cautioned, risk sending the wrong message if their presence overshadows local successes.

"We want to make sure that whatever resources are available to us augment our efforts as opposed to take away from our efforts," he said.

That balance -- between welcoming resources and protecting perception -- underscores the uncertainty surrounding the governor's request. Arceneaux has submitted pages of questions to state leaders: How many troops might come? How long would they stay? Who would direct their work, and how would success be measured?

Louisiana Adjutant General Thomas Friloux has assured the mayor that any Guard presence would be crafted in partnership with city leadership, not imposed from above. That assurance, Arceneaux said, gave him cautious optimism.

"I was comforted by the fact that the initial expression of intent is that we want to work with you," he said. "If that is true, then I think we can make this decision a positive one for the people of Shreveport."

Public reaction has been mixed -- some residents see value in extra manpower, others view the idea as unnecessary or even harmful. Arceneaux stresses the decision isn't his to make. But if Shreveport does receive troops, he said his duty is clear: to minimize disruption and maximize benefit.