By Ray King
The only candidate for Pine Bluff Police Chief faced members of the public in what Mayor Shirley Washington called one of the final steps in the process of selecting a new chief.
Robert Jones, who is currently police chief in Kingsland, Georgia, which he said was like a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida, has met with city officials, members of the selection committee and the command staff of the police department.
Jones was asked what he would bring to the table if selected as the new chief.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I was ready,” he said during the question and answer session.
If he is selected, Jones would replace the current Chief Kelvin Sergeant, who is retiring at the end of June after 26 years.
Besides his meetings, Jones was also given a tour of the city and was asked what needed to be done to reduce crime.
Jones was also asked about gang violence and replied that you have to “start young because gangs are recruiting at a very young age.” He also said he wouldn’t object to getting outside help to deal with the problem.
Jones said while property crimes are going down, violent crimes, particularly homicides, are increasing.
Washington said the selection committee will meet one more time to decide if they want to offer Jones the job and if he will take it. That meeting and announcement are expected in the next few days. If the committee decides not to offer Jones the job, or if he doesn’t take it, Washington said it would be on to “Round Two.”
