BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) — The current Benton County sheriff made his re-election run official Thursday (Nov. 5).
Sheriff Kelley Cradduck formally announced he will be seeking a third term as sheriff. The sheriff plans to file his paperwork at the Benton County administration building at 2 p.m. Cradduck will be running on the Republican Party ticket.
If he’s elected for a third term, Cradduck plans to strengthen the Cyber Crimes Unit he established when he first became sheriff by increasing the size of the Cyber Crimes Unit with the addition of better technology and more deputies. Since the start of the Cyber Crimes Unit, the sheriff’s office has arrested more than 50 would-be sex offenders and child abusers, including Fayetteville School District Athletic Director Barry Gebhart, according to a release from his campaign.
Cradduck has also led his office to more than $1.5 million in drug seizures, which is an increase of more than 300% from the previous administration, his campaign states. The sheriff has also added a crime suppression and DUI unit resulting in safer roads and a safer community, according to Cradduck’s campaign.
During his third term, the sheriff is also planning to continue to put pressure on gangs to keep them out of Benton County, his campaign states.
As sheriff, Cradduck has provided better equipment for his deputies in the field to ensure quicker information exchange and a safer environment during traffic stops and call outs, according to his campaign. The sheriff also wants to make the office more accountable and transparent by putting body cameras on every patrol deputy, Cradduck’s campaign states.
Since becoming sheriff, Cradduck has balanced the budget and returned money to the county, according his campaign. He’s also been greatly involved in the community and encouraged all of his deputies and staff to do the same resulting in a drastic decline in complaints made against deputies, his campaign states.
Last week two Benton County Sheriff’s Office employees filed grievances accusing the sheriff of demoting them because they reported him to Arkansas State Police and cooperated with the agency’s investigation into what they deemed to be “illegal and unethical actions” made by Cradduck.
