Springdale city administrators will discuss the recent disbanding of police funeral escorts at a committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, according to the mayor’s office.
Alderman Jim Reed requested the city’s Police and Fire Committee tackle the subject late Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.
The Springdale Police Department announced last week it would quit escorting funeral processions. Chief Kathy O’Kelley said the practice depletes department resources and may be dangerous to motorists.
The mayor’s office and City Attorney Ernest Cate said they did not know if any action would be taken at the meeting.
O’Kelley said 30 percent of funeral procession escort requests come during the police department’s busiest shift and that seven of the nine most populous cities in Arkansas do not offer police funeral escorts.
