American Press

Fort Polk officials give ‘all clear’ after active shooter scare

Published 6:52 pm Monday, March 9, 2026

By Pamela Sleezer

Fort Polk's name is being changed back to Fort Polk after previously being renamed to Fort Johnson. This decision reverses the 2023 renaming which honored Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I hero. The base will now be named after Gen. James H. Polk, a Silver Star recipient from World War II. (Ashlyn Little / American Press)

Fort Polk and its Joint Readiness Training Center were on a brief lockdown Monday afternoon amid a security alert, officials said.

All access control points to the Vernon Parish military installation were closed to inbound and outbound traffic just after 4 p.m. as officials said authorities “investigated an incident on the installation.”

The initial alert advised everyone on the installation to shelter in place until further notice from security personnel.

At about 4:34 p.m., an all clear was given, and access control points were reopened for normal operations after officials said there was no active threat to the installation community.

“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our soldiers, families, civilian employees, and community partners while authorities responded to the situation,” a release from the installation’s public affairs team read.

Officials did not respond to requests for more information on the initial complaint made to emergency personnel Monday evening.

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Fort Polk is home to more than 7,300 active-duty soldiers and their families, and houses an estimated population within its gates of more than 30,000 individuals that includes rotational troops and civilian employees.

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