CEDARVILLE (KFSM) – The Crawford County prosecutor says it may be time for the Sheriff’s Office to patrol Cedarville, after the city lost its fourth police chief in the last 14 months.
The Cedarville Police Department is again without a chief, after Blaine Irvin resigned recently. County prosecutor Marc McCune said on his Facebook page the lack of stability impacts his office when prosecuting crimes.
“Facebook is Facebook regardless of who`s on it, and until I speak with those people personally, ordinarily it`s Facebook,” Cedarville Mayor Glenanna O`Mara said.
McCune questioned whether it would be better to have the Crawford County sheriff take over duties in the city.
“Cedarville Police Department is going nowhere at this time,” O`Mara said.
Irvin resigned because of time and pay constraints, officials said. Chief Mark Gentry was fired last October for undisclosed reasons. Six other officers resigned at the time. Four police chiefs have served the city since June of 2013.
O`Mara said city leaders are looking for a new chief.
“They could work any number of hours they are salaried here. At this time, it is $13,500, which, again, is not enough to raise a young family on,” O`Mara said.
O’Mara said plans are in the works to potentially propose a one-cent sales tax to increase the chief’s salary.
The mayor said the department has five officers. Two are paid.
Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown said he will assist Cedarville as needed to provide quality law enforcement—as he would any police department in the county.
4mnr
As a former officer I can honestly tell you the real problem. Chief Goss retired Chief Gentry was fired, intermediate Chief Johnson resigned and Chief Irvin resigned. Gentry was asked by the mayor to resign and didn’t so he was fired. Johnson had conflicts of schedule at his full time job. And Chief Irvin was asked to resign or be let go. The problem is the mayor she knows nothing about running a PD but wants full control and if she does you get asked to leave. Just like the fire dept. She got into it with the district fire and formed the city which I know personally torn the town apart cause I would have to assist the city first responders cause the patient wanted district first responders.
Amazed
Why was Police Chief Gentry asked to resign? I would trust this man with everything I have and I speak from a long history and personal knowledge of him..
concerned citizen
Did you bother to speak with chief irvin to get his statement? That is where the story really is. He has made a statement in the Cedarville in and around Facebook as well as cedarville, Arkansas and surrounding area.
concerned citizen
The in and around page is ran by the mayor herself. And to be added she must approve you. And she has blocked many local residents even though they do not live in the city they have a vested in trestle in the city and city news is shared by her on it.
Velda
This is simple small town corruption. Fraud, lies, theft, harassment of innocent motorists, and no different from most small town police departments. Rob, steal, cheat, lie, cover up, etc.
Avoid these small towns like the plague. State police and big city cops are honest and held accountable and have dash cameras that can not be deleted and citizens can get the video.
Concerned Citizen
The real problem here is that the salary is $13,500. Who would be stupid enough to take a full-time position that has a risk factor such as chief of police? I don’t even see how this is legal! The last I knew, minimum wage is 7.25/hr. This salary would equate to 6.49/hr based on a 40 hr work week. You could work at McDonald’s and get more wages.
My Two Cents
You’re spot on in your assessment Concerned Citizen – according to the US DHHS web site (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm), he’d have been living well below the poverty line with even a small family.
Larry
I think i read on the Cedarville And Around page had some post way back said it had never made that “their” fakebook page. You saying you were a police officer that ain’t there anymore, shows you are one of those belongin to the prosecutors “revolving door”. That means you must have been one of them part of the problem folk, following his chief out the door leaving the good people of that poor town. I live in and around there and haven’t seen any but the same 1 for weeks. From the prosecutors post looks like there was a chiefs problem if he and other black shirts were not available. That tells a lot “in my opinion”
Larry
There you go concerned citizen. My thoughts to the penny. And that poor youngin did right by his family puttin them over a job with no pay, and regular daily whoppins from the ones he “served and protected”. I saw back posts with the gripes.
Larry
Back to 4MNR.
Got a copy of the District fire dept ISO rating report. That dept got em some big purdy trucks but the report says little to no personel or trainin. And they sure had em some purdy shirts. Shame they are worn by criminals with felonies. Wouldn’t want them thieves in my house on first responder calls. Scope you out, set you up, and take my stuff. 2nd amendment rights baby!
Larry
But as they say. Small towns …. All got their probs. get stuck with it when money is thin. Gotta eat. Gotta live.
concerned citizen
He had a fulltime job and was only required to work 20 hours a week nnotfull time. It was extra income.
concerned citizen
20 hours in cedarville
Amazed
Why is it every time I am on any street in Van Buren I see Cedarville Police Cars in the city limits of Van Buren driving around and cruising Sonic on Pointer Trail? Seems to me they have enough going on in Cedarville to stay within Cedarville’s city limits. I also see a Cedarville police car parked at one of the houses in Van Buren every night.
Larry
Could also be a problem if the chief allowed it. I hear mayor has said the cars were gonna stay in the city. If he was this great chief the Fakebook folks say he would of saw to it. Or was he part of it?
concerned citizen
Was it a charger?
Amazed
Concerned citizen to tell you the truth I did not pay any attention to the Make of the car…..just that it had the Cedarville Police Department markings on the outside. I’ll be sure to take a look at the one parked at the house in Van Buren on my way home tonight. It has been parked there around dark every night for about a week and one night it was well after dark. Sorry I can’t give more details, but I was driving. Maybe I should take a picture????
Larry
Just heard the chief had also resigned from a big ‘o police job in VB. there 6 years? Whoa
Concerned citizen
Larry that’s exactly my point. How does a vb pd just quit and work at a chicken plant? I’ve heard more about the drugs but and if it’s true then he has no business enforcing the law when also breaking it.
moneymyst
Maybe the mayor would like to move to Tontitown. She would fit in.
chewie
I have been readin all these facebook things and i live in van buren and i know that chief,has anyone ask some of the folks here whats been told? Well he just might want to stop with saying people are corrupt just there,someone needs to speak with a few on money issues and drug evidence with him,and what he has done,just wondering if anyone has thought of that? all they have to do is talk with some people at some of the local hangout for all these cops we have everywhere and the tanning salon by price cutters> some are more than willing to tell all they know.
Concerned citizen
The mayor may be the problem since there have been 4 chiefs BUT this past chief was also a vb police officer. Why don’t 5 news investigate that part of this story. Apparently he quit 2 months ago after his wife got a dwi from my understanding. (Not positive) How does a police officer go from being a vbpd cop and chief of cedarville to not being a cop anywhere? Again I believe there is something wrong with the city of cedarville to allow so many chiefs in such a short period of time and that needs to be checked out. Too many people are stuck on one story or the other when I clearly see there are 2 stories that none of us apparently know anything about cause BOTH parties seem to be hiding something. 5 NEWS DO THE RIGHT THING AND ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE AND NOT JUST GO ON HEAR SAY! SEE WHY MR. Irvin quit at vb pd and cedarville then see what’s going on in CEDARVILLE ALSO.
Larry
Drugs too? Mayor may have been trying to get rid of a bigger problem than everyone knows sounds like. Hmmm. Are people on
4mnr
Larry what does the 2nd amendment have to do with anything here.
Larry
We can protect our self and our property from thieves and danger from thugs.
Larry
Concerned citizen. I would think the chief is responsible for the officers regardless which cop car they were in. So it’s a chief problem. He answers for that. But don’t have that time to take care of business looks like.
Heartbroken
surprise maybe if you spent more time investigating murders instead of throwing them under the rug because the victim had a mental disorder. shame on you!!
Chewy
I was told the sheriff office did the investigating and took to Prosecuter on tv??? Is that not true either? The state did last ones in cederville and Chester ????
hotrod0527
Why would the officer second in command refuse a drug test and after he let her go because of this why would he be given the ultimatum to resign or be let go?????
Larry
Dang! Looks like 2nd in command was Capt. McIntosh. Dude, or dudette, why would that be the supervisor if he couldn’t pass a drug test? Again a Chief problem if that’s going on. That department needs some good going over by the new chief when they find one!
hotrod0527
Its not mcintosh…….its wheeler, she is the whole towns problem along with the mayor. Thats why they have a chief problem. When she doesnt get what she wants the chief is asked to resign.
Concerned citizen
The mayor may be the problem since there have been 4 chiefs BUT this past chief was also a vb police officer. Why don’t 5 news investigate that part of this story. Apparently he quit 2 months ago after his wife got a dwi from my understanding. (Not positive) How does a police officer go from being a vbpd cop and chief of cedarville to not being a cop anywhere? Again I believe there is something wrong with the city of cedarville to allow so many chiefs in such a short period of time and that needs to be checked out. Too many people are stuck on one story or the other when I clearly see there are 2 stories that none of us apparently know anything about cause BOTH parties seem to be hiding something. 5 NEWS DO THE RIGHT THING AND ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE AND NOT JUST GO ON HEAR SAY! SEE WHY MR. Irvin quit at vb pd and cedarville then see what’s going on in CEDARVILLE ALSO.