Sheriff encouraging positive contacts with residents

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Sheriff Meyer Gilbert wants deputies to have more positive interactions in the community.

Most encounters between people and law enforcement involve maybe a traffic stop or possibly an arrest, Gilbert said.

He has requested each deputy make 10 positive contacts in the community during a 12-hour shift. There are three shifts: 6 a.m.-6 p.m., 3 p.m.-3 a.m and 6 p.m.-6 a.m. On average, nine deputies work the morning and night shifts, while an average of 16-18 deputies work between 3 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The positive contacts are one way residents can get to know the deputies who patrol their communities, Gilbert said.

"We want to be more community oriented and work more with citizens, businesses and other community groups to better our response to crimes and respond to community needs," he said.

The Sheriff's Office did not respond to requests to speak with a deputy about these interactions.

Gilbert said he wants deputies to get out of their vehicles and meet people. Deputies could be go into a convenience store and speak with employees and customers or stop to talk with a farmer or rancher, he said.

Kelly Cantrell, a spokeswoman for the Washington County Sheriff's Office, said that office does not require deputies to have positive interactions with the community.

"It's just our Sheriff's Office way," she said. "It's what our deputies do day in and day out as they go about their duties."

Rogers Police Chief Hayes Minor said department officials always have urged officers to have positive, nonenforcement contacts with residents. The department, though, does not track the contacts.

"One thing we started last year that we loosely track is business visits," Minor said. "Every day, officers are tasked with visiting local businesses they wouldn't normally visit in the course of routine duties and talk about things that might be on the business owner's or manager's mind."

The visits are logged to make sure officers don't stop at the same businesses, he said.

Gene Page, a spokesman for the Bentonville Police Department, said department programs such as the Citizens Police Academy and Women's self-defense classes garner personal interactions between police and residents.

Keith Patterson of Bella Vista said positive interaction may help people relate more to law enforcement officers.

"I wanted once to be a police officer, but not in today's world," he said. "I would not want be a police officer with people plotting to shoot me."

Gilbert spoke last month at a forum held by local law enforcement leaders at Northwest Arkansas Community College. One audience member wanted to know how to approach police officers or deputies at a convenience store.

That should not be a problem, Gilbert said, because that's the type of positive interaction he wants between deputies and residents.

"I want to see him coming up to you," he said.

NW News on 09/05/2016

Upcoming Events