By Ray King

Pine Bluff Interim Assistant Chief of Police Kelvin Hadley said Thursday that investigators have leads in some of the unsolved homicides in the city and he is hoping those leads will result in arrests before the end of the year.

With the death of Kevin Curl Jr., 22, who was shot by a paramedic after Curl shot the paramedic and his partner early Thursday, there have been 27 homicides so far this year and police have made arrests in more than 50 percent of them.

Hadley appeared on the Oldies 101.3 morning show and was asked what the department’s goals would be for 2021.

Asked about his reference to other agencies, Hadley said they include the FBI, DEA, Arkansas State Police, ATF, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and others.

“They’re continuing to work with us and help us to decrease crime right here in Pine Bluff and we’re thankful to those agencies for volunteering their help,” Hadley said.

Hadley was also asked how the recruiting efforts for new officers in Pine Bluff is going?

Asked about cameras the department is placing in high crime locations, Hadley said they are working well and department officials met with the vendor on Wednesday and ordered 20 additional cameras. He declined to identify the locations where the cameras are in use.