Sunday afternoon, a three-vehicle motor pool of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders pulled into the gates of the Dallas County Detention Center in Fordyce. The entourage included Sanders and her husband, Bryan Sanders, as well as State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar, House Speaker Matthew Shepherd, State Sen. Matt Stone and State Rep. Sonya Barker.
The governor’s appearance at the county jail was to meet with and express her appreciation to local law enforcement and first responders who stepped forward during the June 21 mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store where four were killed and nine others injured.
Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedle introduced Sanders, welcoming her to Fordyce. The sheriff said how honored and appreciative they were to have the governor with them for the occasion. In addition to Knoedle, Fire Chief Jim Culp, Police Chief Chad Eubanks, Mayor John MacNichol and County Judge Chris Stanfield were present representing Fordyce and Dallas County.
“We know there is hurt and brokenness in this world,” Sanders said, “but by working together and loving one another, people can help to make it a better place.”
“Thank you for the work you do,” she told the two dozen Fordyce police officers and county sheriff’s deputies, as well as Fordyce Fire Department representatives. After her brief remarks, she personally shook hands with each officer.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Shepherd also addressed the officials.
“I’m from El Dorado,” Shepherd said. “All south Arkansas has felt this loss. As Gov. Sanders said, we thank our first responders for standing up in the face of danger. When the sirens are wailing, they head toward the danger. Our prayers will be with Fordyce for many, many days to come.”
Barker also spoke.
“It is so heartwarming to see people still caring for each other and coming together in love and support,” she said.
Stone added a final word before the visit wrapped up.
“We know that what was meant for evil, and this was an evil deed committed to Fordyce, God has meant for good,” Stone said.
Upon leaving the detention center, the governor’s carpool proceeded to a meeting at the Dallas County Medical Center. Members of the DCMC Board of Governors included Todd Roark, Don Harris, Trish Hinds and Bubba Hargett. Also in attendance were DCMC CEO David Mantz, nurse Rodney Wallace, who was one of those responding to the mass shooting emergency, and DCMC Director of Nursing Leslie Cope.
Roark reported how the governor stated how this type of situation reinforces the need for rural hospitals and how she would continue putting them to the forefront of her agenda.
“She said she sees how the staff of Dallas County Medical Center is much closer than what she sees in many communities and that other hospitals could learn from that,” Roark said.
The last stop on her visit to Fordyce was a brief visit to the crime scene at the Mad Butcher. Sanders and her husband prayed at the foot of the memorial site set up near the entrance to the parking lot. Before they departed for Little Rock, she placed a bouquet of live flowers at the base of the white crosses bearing the four deceased victims’ names.
Prior to her first scheduled stop at the Dallas County Detention Center, Sanders and her cadre made a surprise visit to the Beech Grove Baptist Church Family Center around noon where they were invited to join in a fifth Sunday potluck lunch.
Travis Eugene Posey is in custody on charges of capital murder.
During her Sunday trip to the Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce, Gov. Sarah Sanders took photos with DCMC Board of Governors and Dallas County Quorum Court member Todd Roark. (Special to The Commercial/Todd Roark)
Gov. Sarah Sanders and First Gentleman Bryan Sanders stopped by the memorial site in the Fordyce Mad Butcher parking lot to pray, pay respects and leave a bouquet of live flowers to honor the deceased victims of the June 21 shooting. (Special to The Commercial/Kate Flynn)