Representatives of three law enforcement agencies fielded questions ranging from the marine patrol on Lake Hamilton to initiatives to keep the community safer Monday during a special panel discussion hosted by Oaklawn Rotary Club as part of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Garland County Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence, Hot Springs police Cpl. Joey Williams and Arkansas State Police Sgt. Kevin Steed participated in the panel discussion, held at The Hotel Hot Springs & Spa, which focused on agency accomplishments, community needs and other topics.
Some of the questions arose from a Jan. 2 article in The Sentinel-Record stating that the marine patrol would have a reduced presence on Lake Hamilton this year. Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick warned the quorum court during 2018 budget hearings in October that without a significant investment from the general fund or another revenue stream 2019 would be the last year the patrol could operate at full capacity.
"There was an article in the paper the other day about marine patrol. Any ideas on an answer for that?" Rotarian Scott Burton asked Lawrence.
"Absolutely," Lawrence said. "I would say first and foremost Sheriff McCormick 100% supports that we need a marine patrol in our community. We have three amazing, beautiful lakes in Garland County. It is important as we enforce the laws that the most important thing is not writing citations, but keeping it safe."
He said the department will be working "very closely" with the Garland County Quorum Court, and it is "very lucky" to have the support of the county judge and quorum court.
"Sheriff McCormick and I are sitting down and working on our needs list," Lawrence said. "We have, at times, for example, had three boats on the water, and have had up to four individuals working lake patrol. ... What we are seeing more than anything is just (depletion). One of our boats is 1999, another one is 2003. ... That program is not going away, we just have to make sure we put the best individuals out there with the best equipment possible."
Rotarian Lee Richardson said, "I live on the lake, and boy that article is real upsetting when it comes out the way it does. Have y'all ever thought about getting a resident committee together with your people? I've got some ideas on how to raise money to support your marine patrol. You need a consensus of people who live on the lake because I'm afraid to get on the lake anymore."
Lawrence said he would love to schedule a meeting with Richardson and other property owners so "we can sit down and talk about those ideas. That's the most important thing I think we need to do in law enforcement, is we reach out to the community. You probably have ideas, sir, that honestly, I haven't thought of. I want your input, I need your input, so we can sit down and work together."
He said the sheriff's department's 2020 initiatives include increased crisis intervention training, training civilians on how to respond to an active shooter, and promoting neighborhood watches.
"Law enforcement can't be everywhere, no matter how many you have," Lawrence said. " ... We can't be everywhere, so the importance of working with communities, working with neighborhoods to be the eyes and ears."
Steed said the main goal for the state police in 2020 as an "assisting agency" is to provide assistance to local agencies that, in his opinion, "need more officers."
"Basically we're here to help the community in any way we can, and help these guys beef up the enforcement and protect the people who want us here," he said.
Williams said that for 2020 the department will be adding a downtown enforcement officer who will be more focused on "people who are loitering down there (and) harassing tourists."
"On behalf of the sheriff's department, I will tell you from our standpoint, the number one priority we have is service," Lawrence said. "The most important thing we can do is communicate with our community. We have to be able to talk, answer those tough questions, and make sure you have that person you can contact."
Local on 01/07/2020