LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday (June 9) the formation of a law enforcement task force following an outcry from communities across the state to address police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death.
"A recurring theme over the last few weeks, ever since the tragic death of George Floyd, has been the need for improved law enforcement training, the need for increased racial understanding, and accountability in law enforcement," Hutchinson said during a press conference.
After meeting with protest leaders across the state, Hutchinson said he is signing an executive order to create the task force "to advance the state of law enforcement in Arkansas."
The members of the task force will have the following duties:
- To review law enforcement training
- To review policy and operations; specifically related to cultural, racial, and community relations
- To study and analyze the process for accountability, discipline, removal, and decertification of officers who do not meet the standards, including an evaluation for the creation of and implementation of a state-wide public database of complaints and resolutions concerning law enforcement officers
- To review community policing, and how it can be enhanced in Arkansas
- To study the obstacles in recruitment, hiring, and retention of law enforcement officers
- Make recommendations to the Governor on enhancing the trust between law enforcement and communities
- Make recommendations on improvements or changes needed to enhance the profession of law enforcement to ensure compliance with standards
Governor Hutchinson said the task force will make a final report to him by December 31, 2020, and that the work of the task force will be concluded upon the submission of their report.
"I do want to emphasize the support that I have for law enforcement. Their dedication, their sacrifice, the critical role that they have in public safety," Hutchinson said.
There will be no agenda item on defunding law enforcement through the task force, according to Hutchinson.
"It is always a fair discussion as to how funding is used and where the needs are. And that discussion is fair and can be a part of this. But, I have talked to the members of the task force, and this is not to take away from law enforcement, this is to enhance law enforcement," Hutchinson said.
Arkansas' law enforcement standards were created 45 years ago, Hutchinson said. Since that time, there has been no comprehensive review of standards and accountability, how to improve the current system of training, and holding officers accountable.
Hutchinson said in 2019 40 Arkansas law enforcement officers were decertified for violating conduct.
Fred Weatherspoon, deputy director of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, said the task force is an opportunity for law enforcement to "regain the trust of citizens throughout our communities."
"No change occurs without open and honest communication," Weatherspoon said. "We are going to try to reassure the public that law enforcement are here to serve them and to keep them safe."
Weatherspoon said his father was treated with excessive force by police during an arrest when he was 10-years-old, and it forever changed his outlook on law enforcement and guided him on his path to his current role at the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy.
When asked about chokeholds, such as the one George Floyd died in, Weatherspoon responded that they are not part of the training at any facility in Arkansas.
The following people have been added to the task force:
- Percy Wilburn, Vice Chairman of Arkansas Commission of Law Enforcement Standards and Training;
- Jami Cook, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety;
- Shirley Washington, Mayor of Pine Bluff;
- James Sanders, Mayor of Blytheville;
- Tim Helder, Sheriff of Washington County;
- Scott Hamilton, CEO and President of Urban League of the State of Arkansas;
- Rosa Velasquez, Arkansas United;
- KenDrell Collins, Assistant Federal Public Defender;
- Bob McMahan, Arkansas Office of Prosecutor Coordinator;
- Jimmy Warren, Citizen Activist, Conway;
- Emma Davis, Citizen Activist, Van Buren;
- Tim Campbell, Citizen Activist, Little Rock;
- Layla Holloway, Citizen Activist, Van Buren;
- Representative from Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police;
- Representative from Arkansas Sheriff’s Association;
- Representative from Arkansas Black Mayor’s Association;
- Representative from Arkansas State Police;
- Additional citizens as the Governor deems necessary.
"From a law enforcement perspective, we can run the whole gamut," said Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder.
“You have older men, you have middle-age people, you have the younger people then you have the whole generation X kind of break up that’s on there and I think that provides different structures of views,” said Jimmy Warren, Citizen Activist.
Warren, who's from Crossett, Arkansas, says his experiences, along with those from his friends, might help shape the conversation.
“Population was 12,000, more than half of the people that live there were in poverty, so police interactions there won’t look the same as they look in Little Rock or Bryant or Cabot,” Warren said.
Warren says he hopes to talk about the rights for drivers and implement some education in driver's ed. that highlights what people are allowed to do when confronted by an officer or get pulled over.
“Just so we can close the gap on citizens and police,” Warren said.
Sheriff Helder says it's important to hear everyone's point of view.
“The group is diverse so it’ll be an educational process, we need a roll up our sleeves and try to find some common ground and see if there are some areas that we need to improve and I’m sure there are some,” Helder said.