The Pine Bluff Police Department celebrated a significant influx of new talent during Monday’s City Council meeting, introducing 18 new officers to the community.
This group includes 16 brand-new recruits and two certified officers, marking a substantial step in strengthening the department’s ranks. City officials and department leadership praised intensive recruitment efforts for leading to this achievement.
“This is a great day for Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for the Pine Bluff Police Department,” Assistant Police Chief Kelven Hadley said. He emphasized the dedication of the team, particularly Lt. DeShawn Bennett, who “went out and recruited.”
Hadley assured the public that these recruits, after a thorough vetting process, “are going to make you all proud … They’re going to provide the best service possible for the city of Pine Bluff.”
Bennett, who oversees internal affairs, formally introduced the 16 new recruits by name: officers Wyatt Burchett, Derrell Horner, Tryvarious Cole, Andrew Iverson, Nevaeh St. Julian, Alex Thrower, Jabria Rogers, Mariah Shelby, Marquis Blake, Patty Murphy, Valencia Swopes, Kayden Wagner, Avery Plummer, Shadayja Bass, Azoria Lewis and Franklin Jiles Jr., ranging from ages 21-38.
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These recruits are scheduled to attend the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, beginning Aug. 25, for a rigorous 13-week program, with graduation set for Nov. 21.
In addition to the recruits, the department welcomed two certified officers, JiDanancia Mitchell and Damian Durham, who will immediately begin duties without attending the academy due to their prior certifications after their 12 weeks of training.
Four part-time officers were also hired: Cainna Tyson, Efrem Elliott, Corquis Chism and Joseph O’Neal.
Tyson was also noted as a full-time certified officer, currently working another job at the Arkansas Department of Corrections but will also join the ranks. Overall, Bennett confirmed, “We have a total of 22 officers that we hired since April.”
“We just ask that you pray for these individuals. They have a long journey ahead,” Bennett said. “They could be anywhere, but they chose Pine Bluff, Arkansas.”
The recruitment team’s dedication was highlighted, sharing insights into its flexible approach to attracting candidates. To accommodate recruit schedules, the team offered testing on weekends and conducted polygraphs and other services after regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
“Lt. Bennett has been recruiting for us. He’s been boots on the ground,” Police Chief Shirley Warrior said. “He meets them wherever he needs to meet them. He meets them on their grounds.”
Pine Bluff council member Glen Brown Jr. commended the impressive recruitment drive. “I just want to say this is one of the most impressive things,” he remarked, urging the department to “continue to do whatever it is that you’re doing to continue to recruit for the police department.”
Looking ahead, Hadley revealed that the hiring process is ongoing, with “another five to seven that’s going through the process right now, as we speak. So our goal is to at least try to add another 10 in before the end of the year.”
Regarding the department’s current strength, it was confirmed at 87, while currently working on a possible total of 96, also including an additional 14 part-time officers.
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers concluded the event by emphasizing the importance of leadership and unity in achieving such progress.
“Leadership matters and unity matters. No one person is responsible for the mammoth presentation of progress that you have seen tonight,” she stated, acknowledging the collaborative efforts within the Police Department.
Flowers directly addressed past skepticism, noting that “many people inside the city government and outside of the city government said it wasn’t possible, that no one wanted to come to Pine Bluff for a myriad of reasons, whether it was money or other misconceptions about who we are and what we are.”
Flowers thanked leadership, explaining how this display served as a powerful testament to what can be achieved through dedicated leadership and a unified vision.
“Tonight is a good night,” she said. “I feel really good about the trajectory of this city and the progress through the unity of this council and the mayor’s office and every member of the personnel of the city of Pine Bluff that is making this progress happen, and we’re looking forward to more.”