Police chief addresses recent violent incidents
While the recent rash of shooting deaths and violent incidents in Hot Springs are “a growing concern” to residents, Police Chief Jason Stachey said Tuesday the “overwhelming majority” have involved domestic or interpersonal violence.
“The last two months have been very difficult and taxing not only for the residents within the city but for the police department and personnel as well,” Stachey said. “But what we’ve seen when we analyze the homicides that have occurred from the beginning of the year until now is that only two of the incidents are drug and robbery related.”
The rest of the incidents all fall into the category of domestic violence or interpersonal relationships that resulted in violence and Stachey stressed, “there is no way to predict those are going to happen. There were no pre-assault indicators. There was nothing to make you think violence was going to occur.”
“If we had an officer on every corner of every intersection in town, something could still happen
inside one of those houses,” Assistant Police Chief Walt Everton said. “We can’t predict that.”
There have been nine incidents since the first homicide in the city on March 23, involving a total of 10 deaths, although there have been other victims who were injured.
Stachey noted many of the recent incidents have occurred within a short period of time, “about two months,” beginning on June 13, which has made them more alarming.
“We always want to address any violence in the community, but there is more emphasis now because of the short period of time,” Everton said.
Stachey also stressed that of the nine incidents, all but one have been solved, even if no arrest has been made. The two most recent incidents, including Tuesday’s shooting death at 101 Carla Circle, (see related article), and the shooting deaths of two women on July 24, are still under review by the prosecuting attorney’s office.
“There is only one that has not been solved,” Stachey said, namely the June 13 shooting death of Kenneth Kelly Jr., 23, inside his residence at 200 Portland St. “We are still asking for the public’s assistance and a reward is offered of up to $1,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.”
With the other incidents, “every one of them we either have a suspect in custody or we have identified the persons involved,” Stachey said. “We know who is responsible, but it has not been determined if any charges will be filed which will be up to the prosecutor’s office. Some of the incidents may not be classified or labeled as homicides.”
Stachey said that since the majority of the incidents have involved domestic or interpersonal violence, “we have got to do our due diligence to provide education, change or influence behavior and facilitate options for those people involved in domestic violence relationships.
“If there is a heated confrontation, we’ve got to explain to them about de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution. We’ve got to show them that violence is not the answer,” he said.
To that end, Stachey said he plans to host a community leader round table discussion at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the police department involving “our community stakeholders,” including professionals from the mental health community, domestic violence resources, the court system, local clergy, city officials, business leaders and school officials.
Stachey said Duane “Dak” Kees, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, will also be at the meeting to introduce new strategies to combat gun violence, including his program, Project Safe Neighborhoods.
“His office has offered assistance to us and will help us implement that in Hot Springs. He has been a huge asset and resource for us since he was appointed to that position,” Stachey said.
“I want to make sure we do whatever we can to educate, let people know there are resources and assets available in our community. If you are involved in a domestic or interpersonal conflict with somebody, we need them to know violence is not the key here. There are assets and resources that can help you get out of that situation,” he said.
“This is a growing problem nationwide. Not just here,” Everton said. “There is violence all over. (Tuesday) there was a shooting at a Walmart. There was a shooting at a garlic festival. Why? It’s not just an us platform. It’s an everybody platform. We need to shout from the mountaintop there are other answers and stop the violence.”
Stachey said it will take “a community collaboration” to accomplish their goal, noting the HSPD “can’t do this by ourselves.” He said the department has “diligently worked to incorporate the community” through events such as the Citizens Police Academy, Teen Police Academy, Boo with a Badge, Bridging the Gap, and by visiting schools and churches.
“These are things we do on a weekly basis,” he said. “We have to have the community’s support and help to address these issues.”
“And not just some, but everybody,” Everton said. “Everyone has to buy in.”