Diverse array of new appointments at West Memphis Police Department

Mayor makes moves to entrench new leadership within police department

By JOHN RECH

news@theeveningtimes.com

Mayor Marco McClendon is moving quickly to shore up the leadership ranks within the West Memphis Police Department. Topping the list last week was new assistant Police Chief Brent Bradley followed by a diverse array of three other officers to new positions.

McClendon announced the promotion of Captain Harvey Taylor, a 13-year veteran to the rank of Major. In his new role he will oversee the innovative and successful Violent Crime Suppression Unit (VCSU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Narcotics and ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms joint task force) units along with other administrative duties. The promotion on Monday marked the second step up in rank for Taylor in the last two months.

See DIVERSE, page A2

Four newly appointed West Memphis Polie Department officers stood shoulder to shoulder with Mayor Marco McClendon during a promotion ceremony at city hall on Monday. McClendon noted the diversity of the group. Standing left to right, Captain Lauryn Dixon, Major Harvey Taylor, Mayor Marco McClendon, Assistant Chief Brent Bradley, and Captain Ivora Hall.

Photo courtesy of the City of West Memphis DIVERSE

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Sergeant Ivora Hall a 9-year veteran of the WMPD was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Hall was set to supervise the VCSU.

Finally, McClendon announced that former WMPD Sargent Lauryn Dixon accepted an offer to rejoin the department on January 10 at the rank of Captain. Dixon, currently a Detective with the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department, was slotted to oversee the Criminal Investigation Division.

“As mayor, I don’t have a higher priority than keeping our citizens safe,” said McClendon. “I’m excited to have each of these high caliber individuals in these leadership roles. It is very important to me that we have a highly trained and diverse team at the helm of the West Memphis Police Department.”

The job of top cop remains open after the late December notice given by now-former Police Chief Michael Pope, who resigned unexpectedly with an effective date of December 24.