Residents voice concerns over increase of violence
Police: Cooperation from community essential
“Cooperation is the backbone of good law enforcement.”
St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May shared those words with a crowd of area residents attending a public safety meeting Tuesday evening at the Forrest City Civic Center, saying that quote hung on a wall at the Federal Bureau of Investigations J. Edgar Hoover Building in Pennsylvania when he attended the academy there.
The meeting was called by Forrest City Mayor Cedric Williams in response to the recent increase in violent crimes in the city.
The meeting was also attended by officials with the Forrest City Police Department, Arkansas State Police Troop D, Forrest City Fire Department and the First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office who answered questions and addressed concerns voiced by residents.
Williams explained how he wants to combat crime in the city.
"We are looking to attack it from a holistic approach," said Williams. "But, we need help from our community, too."
Williams implored residents to not just reach out to local youth but to also get them involved in programs such as the Success program, City Pride program, JB Fireballers and others. "Programs where we engage with our young people and have conversations with them.”
Williams said the city has new equipment, including the ShotSpotter system, and more cameras being installed. "We have nine currently and have more orders that will be put in city parks," he said.
Williams said those tools, combined with the new dispatch center and new jail will help combat the increase, in time, and that the new technology is because voters approved bond issues for the city and the new jail.
"As we move forward, it is going to take all of us," said Williams. "We are all in this together because we know Forrest City is the key to our entire area.”
Williams introduced the city’s new police chief, Ronald Broussard, along with Arkansas State Police Troop D Sgt. Steve Roberts and First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Todd Murray.
Broussard asked residents for patience as new technology is installed and the jail opens.
"It will not be fixed overnight, even though problems happen overnight," said Broussard.
Broussard said city, county and state officers are working together to patrol "hot spots" in the city. "We want to be proactive, not reactive," he said.
Broussard said it would be his job to manage, recruit and maintain more officers for the FCPD once fully settled into his new position. He is scheduled to take the department’s reins on Aug. 1.
He also stated that he wanted to get the department more training to deal with the criminal element in the area.
"They are evolving, we must evolve also," said Broussard. "We have done some things that are on the cutting edge of police work but we can’t do this by ourselves. It is going to take all of you."
Broussard further stated he would soon release tips for the community on things they can do, such as taking note of car tags when a crime happens to help law enforcement.
FCPD Lt. Eric Varner agreed that even with technology, such as ShotSpotter, it is important that residents keep reporting gunshots to the department.
Varner elaborated that the ShotSpotter technology would allow officers to triangulate within feet of where shots were occurring. He said only officials would know where the sensors are located.
May also agreed that with the changing times, law enforcement strategy also has to change and that community cooperation is important in combating crime.
(Continued from Page 1) "Back when I was chopping cotton we didn't have stuff like this," said May of growing up in the area. "I can tell you this, policing is only as good as the community allows us to be. Without your cooperation and support we are no good."
May said that with the community's help, local law enforcement would be able to catch, send to trial and convict more criminals.
May also reported on the new jail and the technology it has, saying he plans to make it as self-sufficient as possible.
The jail will house a new county-wide 911 dispatch center to which May say anyone with an emergency should call first instead of the sheriff or police department.
"If you call us, we transfer you to them so there is a delay," said May.
He also said that when called directly, the new 911 technology is able to bring up information from the phone number that helps gather information and data from the caller.
May said an open house is planned at the jail on Monday, June 27, and he hopes to begin holding prisoners awaiting trial by the week of July 4. "This is not a hotel. It is concrete and steel and an expensive, high-tech jail.”
Roberts, too, said he was from Forrest City and lucky to return to the area to work.
He stated that while Forrest City isn’t unique for the growing violent crime rate, it is key in bringing all crime in surrounding areas down. "It is not just here, but it is going to take fixing it here to fix it," he said.
Roberts spoke briefly about the cooperation among the law enforcement agencies and that a shortage in staffing affects all agencies.
"When I began here, there were 10 troopers assigned to the St. Francis County area. Now, there are two," said Roberts. "We are shorthanded like everyone else."
Roberts said that with the current saturation of troopers they had seen a reduction of activity in the area but even with that reduction the group made 17 criminal arrests and "countless gun violations."
"So it is a problem," said Roberts of the numbers of guns in the criminals’ hands in this area.
Roberts said he is a gun advocate and does not want to take a person's guns, unless they are in the hands of someone they shouldn't be. "Forrest City is not a bad town. We just have a few bad players. It goes back to if you see something, say something."
Murray agreed that times had changed. "I know you are here because you care about your community and want to know what you can do to help," said Murray. "I think it is important for you to know what we are trying to do first."
Murray said his office had done several things to get criminals convicted, such as adding more resources and deputies, increasing the amount of cases being heard, engaging with judges more frequently, and keeping the working relationships with local law enforcements strong.
Murray also said his agency is seeing more cases that could go through the federal court system.
"Anyway we can do it, we need to do it," said Murray of getting as many cases tried as possible.
According to Murray, the challenge is in getting enough resources in the area, even with the decline in population. "We need more resources for the Delta. The population may be declining but the criminals are not going anywhere,” he said.
Murray said the community could help by supporting police in every way possible, supporting victims and serving on juries. "When called, show up," he said. "It is very important."
Dallas said the fire department may not be the first thing residents think of in crime prevention, but they, too, are doing their part. He said that the department's mission is to save lives, then property, and had formed a Community Risk Reduction Division for code enforcement responsibilities.
Dallas said the city currently has 110 homes that are abandoned, vacant and uninhabitable and that those homes statistically attract crime. "They are 75% more likely to be a victim of an arson, and not only does it damage that house, but houses next to it as well," he said.
He said other ways the department is supporting police is by sharing costs on communication upgrades where scanners could no longer be used to listen into police activity.
Williams added that another way residents could help is by joining neighborhood watch programs and that applications are available through the city to build programs.
When the floor was opened for questions, several people expressed concerns regarding the lack of anonymity in reporting crime, response times and attitudes of law enforcement. Others complained about the quick return of reported criminals back into the public, repeat offenders and bonds being low.
May said the current jail only has the capacity for 40 inmates at this time, but the new jail would help keep many off the streets.
"Also, when a person comes to jail, they have a bond right away," explained May. "And, they can go home right away if they make that bond. They do not see a cell because they are bonding out immediately. I don't agree with it, but that is the law. I have to obey the law like everybody else in the room."
Murray said bonds are a growing concern with his office, and said to address the concern his office and deputies are working with judges to request non-uniform bonds.
"I don't agree with a rubber stamp for anything," said Murray. "In some situations if they are already on probation we are asking judges to hold those people until their hearing. That is the best we can do in that situation."
Murray stressed that residents who do not like how current laws are should contact their local representatives, start petitions and keep in communication with those who make laws. "They want to hear from you. I encourage you as a group to get a petition done or call and start those conversations," he said.
Forrest City City Councilman Rev. Ronald Williams asked how residents could help victims get justice sooner and deter others from doing the same thing.
"What a lot of people don't understand is sentencing isn't done by a judge, it is done by the jurors," explained Varner in violent crime situations that make it to court.
"Not all cases go to trial, but if they don't like what is coming from our office, then they can have a jury trial," said Murray, who again stressed that another important part of community cooperation is showing up for jury duty.
Other members of the crowd expressed growing concerns about the lack of parenting for many children and how that is beginning to trickle into the criminal elements with juveniles.
Council member Louise Fields questioned calls not being answered at the FCPD.
"That is where a lot of people mess up," said May. "They call the police department and not 911. If you call the police or the sheriff, we have to transfer you to 911 and it doesn't show where you are. We want that information on screen so we have that record."
Broussard also encourages residents to vote on crime preventing measures when they appear on ballots.
"When those things are on the ballot and you keep voting no, then the problems can't be solved," said Broussard. "We have to have those things to change what is going on."