Mayor Shirley Washington announced Tuesday, July 20 that retired Arkansas State Police (ASP) captain Lloyd A. Franklin Sr. CFE will serve as interim police chief for the Pine Bluff Police Department. According to the Mayor’s office recent press release, he brings over three decades of law enforcement experience to the post, all of which he gained at ASP. Mayor Washington also spoke with Deltaplex and explained why she thought Franklin would be appropriate to step in as interim chief.
Franklin told Deltaplex why he chose to accept the position.
According to the press release, Franklin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He began his law enforcement career at the state police in 1979 as a corporal while progressively promoting up the ranks of the department.
They added that in 2000, Franklin was appointed state fire marshal, where he was responsible for overseeing and enforcing the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Later, he gained certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner. Franklin has extensive training, including in the areas of racial profiling, firearms, drug enforcement, homicide investigation, and human resource management.
Washington also has experience working with Franklin having appointed him to the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency. “Lloyd Franklin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position. He is well respected by his colleagues, old and young. He has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service and law enforcement and I welcome his leadership to the department,” said Washington.
Franklin stated his main goal is to ensure the department stays focused on providing the citizens of Pine Bluff with superior public safety services that will allow for a great quality of life.
