‘ Money Don’t Sleep’& More…

‘ Money

Don’t Sleep’& More…

Part one of a two- part look back at the top news stories of 2017

news@theeveningtimes.com

There was plenty going on in Crittenden County in 2017 — good and bad — making headlines in the Times. Perhaps the biggest news coming out of the community was a year-long renewed effort by the West Memphis Police Department to combat crime in the city.

On July 25, dozens of criminals were arrested in a massive operation conducted by the WMPD in partnership with several federal agencies in a sweep of the community.

A two-year multiagency effort spearheaded by the Violence Reduction Network culminated as 13 SWAT teams blitzed through the city in an operation code-named “Money Don’t Sleep.” A task force consisting of 200 law enforcement officers and 300 tactical officers executed arrest warrants in not only West Memphis, but also Earle, Frenchman’s Bayou, Marion, and Turrell, rounding up fugitives and suspects across the county in connection to various crimes.

Federal officials unsealed 25 federal indictments charging 43 defendants in a major coordinated effort to smash a “domestic cartel” that included gun violence and drug trafficking activity. In total, including those charged in state counts, arrest warrants were issued for 50 defendants and 31 individuals were in custody by lunch time. A dozen more were rounded up in the ensuing days. Patrick C. Harris, U.S. Attorney for the East District of Arkansas said the effort was the result of two years of interagency investigations and controlled buys of illegal drugs and guns in West Memphis.

“Drug and gun crime has been overrunning the entire Arkansas Delta for some time, and the epidemic has hit West Memphis and Crittenden County hard,” said Harris. “Law enforcement at all levels is committed to helping rid this community of drugs, and is working together to find and stop these criminals. Our collective goal is to return these communities to their lawabiding citizens.

Today’s major operation is a huge step toward this goal, but know that our commitment to helping this part of the state will continue long after today.”

Prosecutor Scott Ellington gratefully acknowledged all the agencies and focused on the community benefits of the two-year operation.

“Our community is worth fighting for, and I believe in West Memphis and Crittenden County,” said the Ellington. “Cleaning up this community begins with holding people accountable for their actions. Today we took a big step toward taking back our community from criminals who choose to sell drugs and guns, rather than contribute in a positive manner.”

On a more personal level, the WMPD reached out to the community with hopes of fostering better relationships with residents.

Community initiatives such as hosting “Coffee with a Cop” open forums, increasing the amount of information the department shares with the community on social media, and recruiting from within the community to fill the ranks of the WMPD.

The department also created the position of Community Affairs officer to address community concerns. Also, most recently, the department trained a group of citizens to help fight crime in the community and become department’s ‘eyes and ears’ in neighborhoods across the city.

The WMPD put a select group of 18 citizens through its first-ever Citizens Academy. West Memphis Police Captain Joe Baker explained the initiative.

“We wanted to do this for the community, so when there is a crime or an incident, there would be community members with a better understanding of what the police department can reasonably do,” said Baker. “It helps citizens pay more attention to what we need to solve crimes. It helps them understand our response to crime and provides an appreciation for what we can and cannot do.”

Other major news items from 2017:

• In news that shocked the community, 5-year-old Christopher Gardner died on June 12 after being left all day in a hot van owned and operated by Ascent Children’s Health Services in West Memphis. Four workers at the daycare: bus driver Felicia Phillips, 42; transportation chaperone Pamela Robinson, 43; transport supervisor Wanda Taylor, 43; and Ascent van safety director Kendra Washington, 40, were charged with Manslaughter in the child’s death after investigators concluded that established safety procedures had been disregarded. Capt. Joe Baker said the boy had apparently tried to remove some of his clothing to keep cool as he languished in the hot interior of the van. Gardner was found dead, buckled in his back row car seat at the end of the day.

• Work on the new Baptist Hospital began in earnest, with the patch of ground north of West Memphis slowly being transformed into a new county hospital.

The facility, which is being funded in part by a onecent sales tax, had an official groundbreaking this past spring. Plans were also changed to provide expanded services and the overall size of the hospital.

Currently, county resdients can stop up at the courthouse and sign a beam that will serve as a part of the new hospital, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

• In its first full year in operation, the Big River Crossing has proven to be a great draw for the community. The pedestrian and cycling trail has had thousands of visitors from both sides of the river and looks to be a big part of the City of West Memphis’s tourism plans for the future, paired with the Delta Regional River Park and a focus on celebrating the city’s history and heritage.

Those plans also include a renovated water tower art project in the city’s Main Street district and the finally- realized completion of a new “Welcome to West Memphis” sign along the Interstate.

• Citing significant findings that jeopardize the fiscal integrity of the district, the state assumed authority of the Earle School District effective in November.

Noting substantial audit violations and unallowable expenses over the last two academic years, the State Board of Education classified the district as being in fiscal distress in October, launching a comprehensive review which revealed additional fiscal issues.

Records reflected close to $2 million in improper expenditures of state and federal funds. As a result, the ADE assumed authority over the district.

ADE Commissioner Johnny Key said, “While we never want to exercise the right to assume authority of a school district, this action is necessary in light of the serious lack of financial stability and academic oversight and ongoing risk of improper spending of taxpayer dollars.”

Superintendent Rickey Nicks resigned. Dr. Richard Wilde, with the ADE School Improvement Unit, was appointed district superintendent.

Key suspended the authority of the

Earle School Board of Directors, offering the board the opportunity to remain in place in an advisory capacity to the new superintendent.

By the Evening Times News Staff