Figuring out how to get police department phone numbers out to the public and dealing with problems like loud noise and people drinking alcohol in public were just a few of the items discussed by members of the Pine Bluff Citizens Advisory Commission on Crime Thursday morning.
Several members said current telephone books do not list numbers for the police or city departments and that the new phone books will not be out until next year. Additionally, Commission member Tom Brown noted that many people don’t know the number to text a tip to detectives, and said his company (Southeast Engravers) would pay for cards with the numbers on them that can be distributed during meetings the commission is planning in each of the city’s four wards, beginning next month in Ward 1.
At those meetings, the commission will be asking for information on specific problem areas and for solutions to those problems.
Thursday morning, several members of the commission talked about the problem of loud noise and music in their neighborhoods, as well as people sitting on their front porches or in their yards drinking alcoholic beverages.
Brown, a former Pine Bluff police officer, said when people call to complain about those type of things, the calls are answered by civilians at MECA, who determine the priority of the call.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“If the next call that comes in is that there are people riding down the street and one of them possibly has a gun, that loud noise call is going to get pushed back,” Brown said.
Regarding complaints about people drinking in their yard, Deputy Police Chief Suzie Powell said the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that as long as the person was in their yard or on their property, they couldn’t be arrested for drinking in public.
“What I tell my officers if they go to a call like that is to ask the people to put the drink in a plastic cup but they don’t even have to do that,” Powell said.
Commissioner Jean Painton has asked the department to furnish the group with a list of “hot spots,” or problem areas in the city.
Painton, who is involved with the Jefferson County Landlords Association, said she would take that list to the association and ask them to help deal with those “hot spots” that they manage, or as she put it, “work with police and go through the back door.”
Brown said he had recently heard from several different police officers who complained about the lack of stability in the department, particularly supervisors who are reassigned frequently.
“If they don’t know who they’re working for and what’s expected of them, how can they do their job?” Brown said.
Alderman Bill Brumett made a brief appearance during the meeting, telling the commissioners that “Alderman (Irene) Holcomb and I have high hopes for this commission and I hope you will communicate your findings with the council.
“We’re looking at you guys for help,” Brumett said.