Gravette Senior Center hosts Coffee with a Cop
GRAVETTE — Several area citizens came out Thursday morning, June 14, for a Coffee with a Cop session at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. The event, sponsored by the Benton County SALT Council, was designed to bring law enforcement officers and senior citizens together to learn about community events and promote a relationship between the two “one cup at a time.”
Chaplain Jim Beckwith, of the Bella Vista Police Department, introduced Officer Brian McKinzie, school resource officer at Gravette High School. McKinzie recently joined the Gravette force after retiring from 33 years with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. McKinzie had served as a police officer four years before going to AGFC, so he will soon have 38 years experience in law enforcement.
McKinzie explained other officers were representing the Gravette PD because Chief Chuck Skaggs was in Little Rock with other city officials attending the Arkansas Municipal League meeting.
McKinzie said he feels he may have the most important job in law enforcement. “There are a lot of really good kids in Gravette schools and a lot who have little parental guidance,” he said. He said these students with little direction at home need the help of community members such as senior citizens and police officers.
McKinzie said he is very impressed with what Gravette Police Department does with what it has. Despite limited resources, the department conducts many training sessions for its officers. He said he and Josh Crane, SRO for Glenn Duffy Elementary School, Gravette Upper Elementary School and Gravette Middle School, have received statemandated A.L.I.C.E. training, instruction in how to deal with armed intruders who might enter the school. He will be attending another week-long school soon.
“We all tend to say, ‘Thank God, it won’t happen here,’ but it could happen,” McKinzie said and emphasized it is best to be prepared. He said police officers have scheduled a walk-through of all school buildings with school officials soon to check for areas where safety features can be improved. Representatives of Ozarks Community Hospital have also asked for some A.L.I.C.E. training with their staff.
McKinzie said he is also really proud of the Gravette school district and praised the quality of the students who recently graduated, including several who are going on to college and the Air Force Academy and others joining the military.
He acknowledged that times have changed drastically from his youth in central Oklahoma where many students might have guns in their vehicles at school because they planned to go squirrel hunting or deer hunting after the school day ended. Today such actions would be strictly forbidden and anyone coming to school with a gun would be looked on with distrust and suspicion. Some schools are now conducting discussions about whether to permit teachers and other school staff to carry guns.
Sgt. Chris Kelley arrived during McKinzie’s presentation and spoke at its conclusion. Kelley came to the Gravette Police Department less than a year ago after nine years at the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. Kelley has been a canine officer and worked with the special investigations unit on the east side of the county, investigating all types of crime, including serving as an undercover narcotics officer. He still works part-time for the county.
Kelley updated the seniors on recent developments in the local department. He said there are now cameras in all police cars and officers wear body cameras. Advanced technology allows recording of conversations within the cars and makes it possible for officers to start their reports while still in the car, allowing them to spend more time on patrol and less time at the police station doing paperwork.
Kelley also mentioned the training local officers receive. He said the department does a lot and he is now training a new officer as well as supervising training for all other officers. He hopes to be able to teach more classes locally to save money over having to send officers out of the area for training. He said the Gravette department has been training with Sulphur Springs and will train with Decatur officers soon. He reported the department now has a motorcycle officer, Officer Ingle, who may be seen on patrol.
Kelley cautioned his listeners against several types of scams that are now being run in the area, including Internet scams, phone scams and all types of fraud. He warned them to be wary of calls saying they have won large sums of money because “when it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” He also told them to be cautious about scammers posing as family members and asking for money to get out of jail or other situations, persons saying your computer has a virus and they need personal ID information in order to correct it and callers saying they are from the IRS and you will be jailed if you don’t pay money you owe.
“Never send any money in response to a phone call and, if you ever have any questions, just call us at the police department,” Kelley advised.
Kelley covered topics of interest to his listeners, including the legality of openly carrying firearms. He said it is legal to openly carry a gun if the owner has the proper permits. “That person is only exercising their rights,” he said, “but I personally don’t recommend it.” He also addressed the medical marijuana issue and said no permits are currently being issued for growing medical marijuana since current regulations for the licensing process have been struck down and a whole new process is being developed.
Kelley said the department would have police cars on display on Gravette Day, and members of the Benton County SWAT team would be present to allow youngsters to examine their gear and ask questions of the officers.
In response to questions from Center director Melissa Steele, Kelley explained that the city has no stated disaster plan other than their individual training in dealing with natural disasters such as tornadoes, but noted that there are safe rooms planned in the new gymnasium to be built with funds from the recently passed school bond issue. He said there has been an increase in identified sex offenders in the area, but all such offenders must register and be assessed to determine their likelihood of reoffending. There are only a few places such persons can reside since there are so many areas they must avoid, including schools and churches, so most who have come to town have moved on quickly.
SRO Officer Crane and Robin Mizell, district director with Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s office in Lowell, were also on hand to answer questions.
Coffee, doughnuts and orange juice were served.