By Ray King
Interim Pine Bluff Police Chief Lloyd Franklin Sr., on Wednesday talked about a new program that he has implemented in an effort to reduce crime in the city.
Franklin, a retired Arkansas State Police Capt., was selected Mayor Shirley Washington to run the department, taking over for interim Chief Kelvin Hadley, who had been in the position for several months before the retirement of Chief Kelvin Sergeant in July.
Franklin appeared on the Oldies 101.3 morning show and was asked if he was accomplishing some of the things he wanted to do.
He went on to say that the department was using overtime money in an effort to reduce violent crime, and targeting certain people known to be responsible.
Franklin said the department was going to continue to take that approach and said 20 officers had stepped up and are working extra hours to make the program work.
“They go home, get a couple of hours of sleep and come back to work,” he said.
As an example of the success of Blue Rain, Franklin said officers targeted the Shady Grove area, which has been identified as one of the major “hot spots” for violent crime in the city.
