HEBER SPRINGS — Police Chief Bobby Walker said he believes his officers have a good relationship with Heber Springs residents, but he’s determined to keep it that way.
That’s why he’s planning a friendly get-together with the public.
The city’s police and fire departments will sponsor Heber Springs Night Out, beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 in the First United Methodist Church parking lot, 1099 W. Pine St. It’s a Heber Springs twist on the National Night Out held by police departments.
“We’re really going to try to make it fun and informative, and bring the community together with our police officers and our firefighters,” Walker said.
The free event will include hot dogs, hamburgers and bottled water; bounce houses and games for children; drawings for T-shirts; and giveaways, Walker said.
He said a woman will bring her search-and-rescue dog to the event for a demonstration, and people can take a spin on a golf cart while wearing DWI goggles.
One of his goals is to let the people know how much the Heber Springs Police Department has to offer.
“We’re going to let people sign up, and we’ll contact them and talk to them about the Neighborhood Watch Program and getting that set up,” he said. “I have not been contacted recently, … but we do have the signs around. … People get together with other people in the neighborhood, and I or another police officer will talk to them.”
He said all it takes is neighbors getting together to talk over a “cup of coffee or a Coke, and if one leaves town, they know enough about them that they’ll ask questions or call the police.”
Walker said he’ll tout school resource officers, who teach anti-bullying classes in the school district and at the Heber Springs Community Center.
He said the Police Department has 17 officers, and many are certified instructors.
“We’re also into education. Our officers are trained to teach a lot of things that people don’t know about, and we’ll try to accommodate them if they’re interested in those different things,” Walker said.
“We teach gun safety, Halloween safety,” he said. “Another thing right now that’s a big deal is Internet safety. My granddaughter is 11 years old, and she’s on the Internet a lot. They can get access to everything. We teach them what they need to stay away from, information they don’t need to give out.”
Heber Springs Mayor Jimmy Clark said Heber Springs “is the fifth-safest city in the state,” but that it has “the same issues as other towns,” including drugs and burglaries.
He said civic organizations, the school district and businesses are joining the city’s police and fire departments to sponsor the Heber Springs Night Out.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to put a face with the uniforms for kids and the adults, and to have a more friendly atmosphere — just to get people used to recognizing our officers and our fire department and that they’re there to help,” Clark said. “We have a great relationship; we just want to build them more.”
Walker said the law enforcement officers and firefighters will be at the Heber Springs Night Out from 5 “until the crowds stop coming.”
In case of inclement weather, the event will be held across the street in the high school gymnasium, he said, pointing out the cooperation between the Heber Springs School District and the Police Department.
Walker said an event such as this hasn’t been held before.
“I just hope it builds a tighter bond with our police and [firefighters] in the community,” Walker said.
“We’ve never had so many people walk up to a restaurant and thank us for our service,” he said. “The support is out there; it’s not like it is in cities with large groups who are against the police.
“All the problems nationally with the community and the police — I don’t think we have that here, but I want to make sure we don’t get that here.”
Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansas
online.com.