Concerned citizens voice thoughts on next police chief

By Joseph Fondren

NEA Town Courier

Contributor

Concerned citizen Sharon Stringer explains how safe still feels in Blytheville. 

BLYTHEVILLE— Thursday night, roughly 30 citizens attended the Community Forum at the Ritz Civic Center concerning the selection of the next chief of police for the city of Blytheville.

The forum was hosted by Blytheville mayor Melisa Logan and the city council. Five of the six city council members were in attendance.

The forum was structured from a series of eight questions which were sent out via a survey by councilman Matt Perrin. Perrin told the Town Courier the survey had “roughly 70” responses.

Concerned citizen Miesha Moore answers a question Thursday night at Community Forum discussing the next chief of police for the City of Blytheville. 

Logan informed the attendees there would be another forum, held at a later date, where citizens would be able to interact with the 10 candidates who have applied for the vacant position.

One question asked by an audience member was how many of the 10 currently live in Blytheville or work in the department?

Logan replied, six of the 10 applicants are members of the Blytheville Police Department.

The first question asked was, “How safe do you feel in Blytheville?”

Concerned citizen and Perrin’s spouse, Cody Perrin, spoke stating she grew up in Blytheville, and although she grew up in a non-safe neighborhood she felt safe and her grandfather was a former police officer.

“I personally have lived in Blytheville my entire life. I grew up on South Ruddle. I wouldn’t say at the time it was the safest place but my family made me feel safe and my grandpa was a police officer in the auxiliary reserve. So, I felt safe personally,” explained Perrin. “I just will say the perception of safety in Blytheville especially from outsiders…the areas that I feel like not everyone agrees are safe places are our parks and our downtown, which are taxpayer areas. That should feel very safe.”

Perrin added she hopes to see more “uniformed officers” outside of their vehicles walking around the parks and downtown area.

After Perrin spoke, engagement was slow and Logan asked the audience to answer if they felt safe and the audience all stated “no.”

Audience members Sheila Rump and Linda Cannon stated they didn’t feel safe in Blytheville, especially at night after getting home from church.

Councilwoman Barbra McAdoo-Brothers explained she felt safe.

McAdoo-Brothers stated, “I am not afraid. I was born and raised here. I’ve lived here all my life. Yes, we have some places that may not be as safe as others, but overall I think our community is so tight-nit that we look out for each other. There are areas that probably could be approved, but we can’t stop people walking on the streets.”

Audience member Sharon Stringer expressed she feels as safe in Blytheville as she does anywhere. However, she said she doesn’t personally know any Blytheville police officers and wished they were in the community more.

The second question was one comparing crime in Blytheville to those in the surrounding cities of Manila, Osceola, Jonesboro, Memphis, etc.

Concerned citizen Michelle Sims stated the crimes of Blytheville can’t be compared to other cities due to a difference in population. Sims added that not all crimes are reported the same in different cities.

Sims added she feels safe in Blytheville but still watches her back no- matter which area of Blytheville she’s in.

Sims, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, expressed the sorority would like to partner with the city to help in anyway they can.

Councilman Matt Perrin gave numbers from the survey stating 35.5% of respondents said it was better in Blytheville, 39.2% the same and 25.3% worse.

Question three was, “What are three characteristics you want from the next chief of police?”

Responses from the audience included, “trustworthiness”, “fairness”, and “open-minded”.

Sims added she doesn’t want the next chief of police to be an officer who was previously fired. Logan insured the audience that a thorough background will be conducted.

Stringer, and others, expressed the chief of police, as well as other officers should live in the city limits of Blytheville.

Logan added currently the handbook reads that officers have to live in Mississippi County.

The fourth question asked citizens how many times in the last year had they interacted with police officers.

One audience member stated she only interacted with them if she had gotten pulled over, and said she doesn’t feel the cops out in the community.

Another audience member expressed she has seen an increase in the last year by the police department, but expressed she’d like to see more police interacting with the city.

Logan, who previously served in the US Army, stated that she has seen and mandated a greater police presence since becoming mayor of Blytheville in January 2023.

She added they created a public relations officer position to help citizens see officers in the public more.

“When we take oath’s, we should take them seriously. And if you aren’t going to do the job then don’t take it,” expressed Logan.

Question five asked what type of qualifications/ experience and accomplishments would citizens like to see from the next chief of police.

An audience member expressed the need for a background in drug enforcement due to the drug related crime in Blytheville.

Councilman Perrin said question seven, which asked how citizens felt about hiring an outside firm to assist in the search, as being a waste of money.

A majority of the audience said no to the question.

Question six in survey asked citizens to name the top three issues in Blytheville.

The audience responded with “community action/ leadership”, “drugs”, “gun control”, and “homelessness”.

Question eight asked respondents to finish the sentence, “Our department is successful when ____?”

Responses included “working together”, “successful”, “trustworthy”, “honesty”, and “respectful”.

During questions by the audience, Rump asked how many of the 10 applicants were present at the forum.

“As the candidates that applied for the job, how many showed up tonight to hear what the citizens have to say. Because I’m a firm believer if you start out right, you’ll end up right. If someone can take their time to come and hear my concerns I may possibly consider you,” said Rump.

Logan added that the candidates weren’t asked to come and that some may currently be on shift.

When asked if any applicants were present, Sgt. Robin Haught-Angel and Charles Middlebrook stood.