Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson told the Fire and Police Committee Monday evening that the Blytheville Police Department (BPD) currently has 38 officers and has received a total of three resignations.
He also said that they have begun departmental new hire assessments with five candidates in the process (three certified already and two non-certified). Additionally, there are three officers scheduled to attend the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Pocahontas from August 17 through November 13. The civilian portion of the department is fully staffed at this time, however he anticipated two resignations from dispatch.
"I would like to emphasize that these resignations that we're getting and all, is the reason we need more funding for the police department. To get our pay scale up, especially between ranks. We are very low and inefficient there. And I believe the dispatchers are below average also aren't they? And we're needing to increase the size of our department also which is going to require more money also. The importance of the one-cent sales tax also, it will help us increase our police department and increase the pay for longevity," Councilman Stan Parks said.
Jefferson also gave a report that stated, "We will be looking to have policies reviewed to make sure that we are currently meeting voluntary standards by submitting them to a company that will review them and provide electronic confirmation and tracking of employee compliance. The cost is estimated at $750 and would be the first step in becoming a certified or recognized department."
Jefferson also told the committee that the department's four new vehicles (two SUV'S and two chargers) have arrived and are in Little Rock ready to be equipped.
Jefferson also distributed to the committee a statistical summary which states in part, that the department has served 1,551 warrants, processed 472 prisoners, filed 14,417 complaints, arrested 429 adults, arrested 90 juveniles, worked 224 accidents, issued 1,969 citations, and responded to 193 domestic violence incidents since January 1, 2015.
Councilman L.C. Hartsfield asked Jefferson what the department needed for officers' safety. Replacement bulletproof vests, new spike strips with "squid technology" was some of the items mentioned.
"The safety of our officers it the most important thing. Whether or not we buy them a new car or not doesn't matter to me, they need to be safe. So I think all the attention that you are giving the department needs to be on how can we make the officers as safe as they can be. . .We support those guys, but we want to support them where they can come to work and be safe and comfortable... I have heard rumors that some of your police officers don't think that we support them. That the administration doesn't support them. We support them, we really do. The guys are working hard and doing a good job. We want them to be safe. Next year I want to hear more about how to make them safe before I hear about new cars," Hartsfield added.
Hartsfield also said that he realized that it was not Jefferson's report, but rather Chief Ross Thompson's. Then he went on to say that the committee had seen the same information on the last three reports and that there is a lot of talking in this community but not a lot of action. He said action was needed.
"So take it back to him and tell him, really, we need new information. We don't need the old information repeated every month, but we need action taken on some of these things," Hartsfield said.
Fire Chief Mike Carney said that the Blytheville Fire Department (BFD) received their new Pierce fire truck Tuesday but it is not yet in service. A representative from the manufacturer will be in Blytheville August 13-14 to conduct training on the new apparatus such as new pumping operations.
"It's basically what we're used to. I see no problems getting them trained on it. Hopefully, we'll have it in service this weekend after the training is complete," Carney said.
Carney also said that Southern Bancorp has recently donated $1,500 to BFD to go toward the purchase of station furniture. He also said that the 2015 annual business inspections have been completed with no major violations noted.
thenry@blythevillecourier.com