Attorney General Dustin McDaniel told the Arkansas Municipal Police Association meeting here Thursday that his office has worked with Chris Thyer, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, to obtain funds for training officers of small police agencies to be better prepared for the dangers they encounter of the streets.
McDaniel, a former police officer, said funds his office obtained, along with federal monies Thyer identified, will help the Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, a division of the University of Arkansas, to “train trainers” from among personnel of the small departments.
Lessons learned in the shooting death of Trumann police officer Jonathan Schmidt on April 12, 2011, may save another officer’s life, McDaniel told association members attending their annual convention. Jerry D. Lard of Trumann was convicted of capital murder last week in Schmidt’s death and was sentenced to be executed two years today after the officer was gunned down on a city street.
Police officers “face a high degree of risk” daily and additional training and resources can make a difference and save lives, McDaniel added.
His office’s Cyber Crimes Unit has helped fill a void in law enforcement circles, McDaniel added, and is expanding. Agents from the unit arrested a Conway man later in the day on suspicion of 10 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony.
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“Internet predators commit a despicable criminal act every time they view or trade an image of a child being sexually abused,” McDaniel emphasized.
The suspect’s computer and other seized electronic evidence will be analyzed at the Cyber Crimes Unit Forensic Lab in Little Rock.
Law enforcement is evolving on a daily basis, McDaniel told the police officers, emphasizing they can intervene to help steer youth away from dangers with simple intervention and a kind word.
When he was a rookie officer in Jonesboro, McDaniel said he remembers responding to a medical emergency at a residence and talking to a terrified four-year-old boy who was distraught that his father might die.
On Christmas, McDaniel said, he delivered a toy police car to the residence for the boy. The attorney general said he recently learned the child (now grown) is a commissioned police officer.
“You do that all the time … and make a grand difference,” McDaniel reminded the officers.
The attorney general’s Law Enforcement Summit set for Oct. 2 will help provide additional “solid training,” McDaniel said.
Families of missing individuals – children and adults — can attend a program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 11, at Arkansas State Police headquarters, 1 State Police Plaza, in Little, McDaniel said.
“We want to help you do everything you can to find your missing loved one,” said a flier for the program. Family members are asked to bring copies of police reports, photographs, dental records and multiple family members for DNA swabbing.
Seven police agencies and support organizations will be on hand for the program, McDaniel noted.