BATON ROUGE — Local officials say they haven’t been given specific details on how Gov. Jeff Landry’s request for 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops would actually play out in Baton Rouge, leaving questions about when the troops might arrive and what their duties would be.
MORE: Landry requests 1,000 National Guard troops for New Orleans, Baton Rouge & Shreveport
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Landry outlined a broad mission for the Guard: deploying to “urban centers,” supplementing police patrols in high-crime neighborhoods, providing logistical support, and securing infrastructure. He promised operations would follow strict rules on the use of force and prioritize “community outreach, to ensure transparency and public trust.”
What Baton Rouge officials know
Landry has the authority to activate the Louisiana National Guard on his own, without any sign-off from Washington. What requires federal approval is the funding. If the Trump administration agrees to cover the cost, Louisiana could deploy troops under Title 32, where the governor retains command but the federal government pays the bill.
On the ground in Baton Rouge, there’s little clarity about what it would all mean. Sources tell UWK that neither local law enforcement nor Mayor-President Sid Edwards’ office have received specific information about when Guard members might arrive or how they would be assigned once here.
UWK contacted Landry’s office for details on the plan. A spokesperson said they are awaiting the president’s approval, but no timeline has been provided for when that might happen.
MORE: Landry pledges Louisiana National Guard troops for Trump’s DC takeover
Mayor Edwards said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the Guard’s official scope of responsibilities have yet to be determined.
“We are continuing to evaluate the details, logistics, and timeline of a possible National Guard deployment,” the mayor-president’s statement read. “Should troops be stationed in Baton Rouge, I will work to ensure they act in a supportive role rather than a replacement for our local police officers.”
Still, Edwards, who was elected on a promise to improve public safety in the Captial City, says that the troops could help support BRPD, who are dealing with a critical shortage of officers.
“Our department is still operating with a shortage of roughly 150 officers. Additional resources can provide much-needed boots on the ground and extra eyes in our community to help keep our residents safe,” Edwards said.
Read the mayor-president’s full statement below
What the mission could look like
The Guard does receive training for domestic missions, such as disaster response and large-scale security, but its members are not sworn police officers and cannot investigate crimes or make arrests in the same way local officers can. Instead, they are typically tasked with providing visible presence, traffic management, logistical support, and protecting infrastructure.
Law enforcement sources say the Guard’s role in Baton Rouge would likely be more symbolic than investigative. Typically, their deployment has been limited to large events, where their visibility frees up police officers to respond more quickly to emergencies.
Aside from LSU and Southern University football games, however, Baton Rouge does not have major upcoming events that would normally warrant such a deployment, leaving uncertainty about what the troops would actually do or where they would be positioned.
Edwards referenced the 2026 Mardi Gras celebrations as possible events where the Guard could assist. “In the coming months, Baton Rouge will host a number of large events, including Mardi Gras, and ensuring the safety of those gatherings is critical. My long-term goal is to bring at least 100 more officers onto our streets, but that process takes time. In the meantime, supplemental support can help bridge the gap and strengthen our collective efforts to protect the people of Baton Rouge.”
Some officials also believe the request comes too late. They point out that Baton Rouge has already seen a significant drop in crime this year, suggesting that the added troops would have been more useful earlier, when violence was at its peak.
“No two Louisiana cities are the same”
The Louisiana National Guard issued a statement in response to the governor’s request, saying it has begun coordinating with law enforcement partners on preliminary planning.
“No two Louisiana areas or cities are the same and each will require a specific operational approach tailored to their current situation,” Lt. Col. Noel Collins said in the statement.
While no additional details were provided, the Guard emphasized its experience assisting law enforcement, pointing to its role in the New Year’s terrorist attack response, Super Bowl LIX, Mardi Gras, and multiple hurricane recovery operations.
“LANG service members have extensive experience in providing and enabling support to local and parish government during times of emergency; that level of cooperation and experience will carry forward on this pending operation,” Collins said.
Collins also stressed that the mission will not impede its ability to respond to hurricanes or other state emergencies.
“Who does not want their communities to be safe?”
A UWK investigation in August showed violent crime, homicides, and gun violence are all down citywide. Year-to-date statistics in August showed homicides down 18%, continuing a downward trend that began in 2023, when BRPD saw killings fall from record highs that drew national headlines.
MORE: Baton Rouge crime is down, yet chief warns police staffing at a “breaking point”
Still, Governor Landry stated in his letter that Louisiana faces elevated violent crime rates, specifically mentioning Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. The governor cited critical personnel shortages within local law enforcement in his request. He added that Guard deployments in recent years, from post-hurricane operations to Mardi Gras and Super Bowl security, have proven effective.
On Fox News Monday night, Landry defended the plan. “Who would not want help in combating criminals on your streets? Who does not want their communities and their cities to be safe?” he said, adding that President Donald Trump is willing to provide assistance with deploying National Guard troops.
The governor’s request did not specify how many troops would be positioned in each city or how they would be rotated throughout the state.
Force multiplier: “More boots on the ground”
In an exclusive interview with UWK’s Louisiana Unfiltered podcast in September, Landry pushed back against criticism of using the Guard, describing their presence as a force multiplier.
“It puts more boots on the ground,” Landry said. “I think what the President is doing is highlighting the need for more action in some of our deadliest cities across the country. Everyone knows we’ve been facing a violent crime wave that has swept through large parts of America. So I welcome any federal resources they want to bring.”
The governor compared the troop request, at the time a Pentagon report published by The Washington Post, to past partnerships with federal agencies. He credited the summer’s “Operation Violent Crime Crackdown” in Baton Rouge, a joint effort with the FBI, ATF, DEA, state police and local agencies, with helping drive down shootings and homicides.
“We started to see the ability for us to affect violent crime through getting some of those bad gang members off of the street. It’s something that we want to do more of. That doesn’t happen without the support of a president of the United States and his cabinet. Having the U.S. Department of Justice at the table with you as you’re planning these out makes a big difference.”
What we learned from the D.C. deployment
In August 2025, Louisiana committed about 135 military police from its National Guard to be sent to Washington, D.C. under the Trump administration’s broader deployment of Guard forces. These troops officially began arriving around August 16 under Title 32 activation.
In total, roughly 800 National Guard personnel across D.C. and supporting states have been mobilized under Title 32 to join the Safe & Beautiful Task Force and Joint Task Force–D.C. to assist federal and local law enforcement.
During this deployment, which was extended until at least December, troops were deployed to areas across the District, including downtown, residential, and commercial areas. National Guard troops from across the country were visible along the National Mall in August and September. The troops were reportedly not armed and did not have weapons in their vehicles, according to multiple media reports.
“Service members are trained in de-escalation techniques and always retain the inherent right to self-defense when faced with a hostile act or demonstrated hostile intent,” a defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Stars and Stripes.
Stars and Stripes reported that between 100 and 200 troops would support law enforcement at any given time, with duties that included administrative tasks, logistics, and maintaining a visible presence in public areas.
In Washington, Guard troops largely provided logistics and visible presence rather than direct policing, a model that could foreshadow how they might be used in Louisiana.
Congressional sound-off
Two members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation weighed in on Gov. Landry’s proposal.
Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican representing parts of the Florida Parishes through northeast Louisiana, welcomed the move.
“Amid ongoing public safety concerns, I support @LAGovJeffLandry’s request for National Guard assistance to fight crime in Louisiana. I’ve listened to my constituents and heard a real desire for more action to enhance public safety in places like Baton Rouge. Additional security in crime hotspots will help protect our families and allow our wonderful Louisiana cities to realize their full potential,” Letlow said.
By contrast, Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr., a Democrat representing Iberville, Assumption, and parts of Ascension Parish, voiced strong opposition.
“While I will always support smart, effective strategies to reduce crime and keep our communities safe, I remain deeply concerned about the continued push to militarize our streets under the guise of public safety.
Our city is not a war zone. Crime is down. What we need are investments in policing, prosecution, and prevention—not soldiers patrolling our neighborhoods. The National Guard plays a critical role in disaster response and homeland security. It should not be used as a political tool to score points on cable news.
We should be focused on real, long-term solutions: hiring and training more local officers, supporting our judicial system, and investing in community-led public safety initiatives. Let’s work together for Louisiana—but let’s do it the right way.”
Mayor-President Sid Edwards Statement:
“When I decided to run for Mayor-President, public safety was my number one priority, and over the last nine months, that goal has not changed. Our Baton Rouge Police Department has been working tirelessly, and I am encouraged that violent crime numbers are trending downward. However, our department is still operating with a shortage of roughly 150 officers. While progress is being made, even one victim is one too many. Additional resources can provide much-needed boots on the ground and extra eyes in our community to help keep our residents safe.
In the coming months, Baton Rouge will host a number of large events, including Mardi Gras, and ensuring the safety of those gatherings is critical. My long-term goal is to bring at least 100 more officers onto our streets, but that process takes time. In the meantime, supplemental support can help bridge the gap and strengthen our collective efforts to protect the people of Baton Rouge.
We are continuing to evaluate the details, logistics, and timeline of a possible National Guard deployment. Should troops be stationed in Baton Rouge, I will work to ensure they act in a supportive role rather than a replacement for our local police officers. As Mayor-President, I am committed to taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of all East Baton Rouge Parish residents. The chain of command and the Guard’s official scope of responsibilities have yet to be determined. However, I will work closely with our state and federal partners to clarify details prior to any deployment. As more information becomes available, we will notify the public.”
Sid Edwards
Mayor-President, East Baton Rouge Parish
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