By Ray King
By a vote of 7 to 1, the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved legislation that will allow the Police Department to consider rehiring officers who had been previously terminated for minor infractions.
The ordinance had been read twice at the second meeting in May and was pulled before a third reading because some members of the council had questions, specifically about what constituted “minor infractions.”
On Monday, Council Member Lanette Frazier cast the only no vote, explaining she believed in giving people second chances but couldn’t support this legislation.
Assistant Chief Kelvin Hadley talked to Deltaplex News after the meeting and explained the intent of the ordinance.
The ordinance provides that people fired for offenses such as insubordination, fighting, untruthfulness, and use of force sustained by IAD (Interal Affairs Division) will not be considered. Additionally, officers fired for pending misdemeanor/felony offense such as domestic battery, thefts, fraud, DUI, violation of protection order, etc., shall not be considered for rehire until the charges are dismissed.
Also Monday, a resolution amending the street department budget and adding two laborer positions and removing two truck driver positions was adopted unanimously. Pay for the two positions will be $31,212 plus benefits annually.
A resolution declaring Friday, June 6, 2025 and June 6 of subsequent years as “Go Orange, National Gun Violence Awareness Day” in Pine Bluff was also approved.
According to the resolution, June 6 has been named a national day of remembrance on which Americans from all backgrounds will honor and remember those who have lost their lives to gun violence, as well as their loved ones who cope with their loss.
The resolution goes on to identify groups like Group Violence Intervention (GVI), the Pine Bluff Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Sixth
Division of the Jefferson County Circuit Court of the 11thJudicial District-West along with other community groups, advocates and individuals (who) have worked tirelessly to combat and reduce gun violence and build safer neighborhoods and a better city.
