By Ray King
Eighteen brand new police recruits were introduced during the Pine Bluff City Council’s meeting Monday and police officials say that is only the beginning.
Capt. Sam Atkinson, who heads the Office of Professional Standards, said the department has hired 22 officers since April, bringing the total number of officers now to 88, plus there are 14 part-time officers also available.
Lt. Deshawn Bennett and Atkinson talked with Deltaplex News about the new group.
Atkinson said the goal is to get back to 100 offices, a number the department and the city haven’t seen in a number of years.
Also Monday, a proposed ordinance authorizing the city to make electronic payments that was read for the third time failed by a vote of 4 to 3, with Council Members Steven Mays, Bruce Lockett, Lanette Frazier and William Fells voting no.
In opposing the legislation, the council members said the ordinance did not provide enough information about who was authorized to do what and how the system would work.
Council members Glen Brown Jr., Lloyd Holcomb and Yvonne Denton voted yes and Council Member LaTisha Brunson was absent.
In supporting the ordinance, Brown said it specified that the City Treasurer, City Clerk and Finance Director were directed to come up with the required policies and procedures and to ensure that state and local rules regarding record keeping and record retention are kept.
Mayor Vivian Flowers, who supported the ordinance, said she would bring it back at the next meeting.
