The Shreveport city council on Monday got an update on the progress of the Red River District in downtown.

SPAR Director Shelly Ragle told council members about changes to the district and the long term security plans.

Surveillance cameras could provide police with eye-in-the-sky assistance, while more lighting could help ease the public perception about safety in the area.

"It always ends up being a challenge from the perception standpoint," Mayor Cedric Glover said. "But that's another area that we're visiting. As I mentioned earlier there is going to be law enforcement space inside the district itself."

"The perception doesn't meet up with reality," said Shreveport Police Deputy Chief Duane Huddleston. "When you look at the number of Part 1 crimes in the area, there were 8 Part 1 crimes during the first 20 days of September, which is phenomenally low when you compare it to other parts of the city."

The Shreveport Police Department is staying with a 56-part plan created under then-Chief Henry Whitehorn to police the entertainment district.