PB City Council Maintains Confidence in Police Chief
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: May 7, 2012
Pine Bluff's police chief was back under fire Monday as some community
and council members questioned her authority at the council meeting.
Months after a police advocacy group, Arkansas Police Benevolent Association approved a vote of no confidence, council member Thelma Walker brought a similar resolution to the table for the second time.
Laurell Hall also made another appearanec before the Pine Bluff City Council, fighting for more to be done in the case of her daughter's disappearance.
"I am here to seek justice for Clea don't want political rhetoric to get in the way," said Hall.
It's been nearly 18 years since a then 18-year-old Cleashindra Hall vanished. In March police served a search warrant but since then Hall says the chief hasn't kept her updated.
"When, I met with her I thought she was talking to me like a mother who had a child who was missing but since that day nothing has happened. Now I feel like I was just being pacified," said Hall.
The chief denied it, saying she and her team spoke with Hall recently.
"We spoke with Ms. Hall, we spent two hours going over the details, my staff and I met with her, we have nothing more to report the forensics have not come back," said Chief Jones.
Mayor Carl Redus repeatedly stood up for the chief, saying, "The city and mayor have confidence in the leadership of the chief."
Mayor Redus also shared improved crime statistics, pushing back against naysayers.
"For the first four months of this year, each month there has been a reduction in crime," said Redus.
Longtime resident and former alderman Jack Foster says the crime statistics don't impact his view of the chief.
"I think she's inconsistent, I think she is over-employed, I think Pine Bluff is going in the wrong direction with her. Too many things have happened, they can't all be wrong, said Foster.
With the room and the council divided, the resolution failed.
"This is a city 50.000 people you don't satisfy everybody but you get the job done and at this particular time the city is getting the job done as it comes to crime," said Mayor Redus.
The Hall family just hopes to see more done in their daughter's case.
"We want justice for Clea and I'll do that any means necessary," said Hall.
The chief has taken a the longtime investigator off the Hall case and says the department is waiting on forensic test results before updating the family.
Months after a police advocacy group, Arkansas Police Benevolent Association approved a vote of no confidence, council member Thelma Walker brought a similar resolution to the table for the second time.
Laurell Hall also made another appearanec before the Pine Bluff City Council, fighting for more to be done in the case of her daughter's disappearance.
"I am here to seek justice for Clea don't want political rhetoric to get in the way," said Hall.
It's been nearly 18 years since a then 18-year-old Cleashindra Hall vanished. In March police served a search warrant but since then Hall says the chief hasn't kept her updated.
"When, I met with her I thought she was talking to me like a mother who had a child who was missing but since that day nothing has happened. Now I feel like I was just being pacified," said Hall.
The chief denied it, saying she and her team spoke with Hall recently.
"We spoke with Ms. Hall, we spent two hours going over the details, my staff and I met with her, we have nothing more to report the forensics have not come back," said Chief Jones.
Mayor Carl Redus repeatedly stood up for the chief, saying, "The city and mayor have confidence in the leadership of the chief."
Mayor Redus also shared improved crime statistics, pushing back against naysayers.
"For the first four months of this year, each month there has been a reduction in crime," said Redus.
Longtime resident and former alderman Jack Foster says the crime statistics don't impact his view of the chief.
"I think she's inconsistent, I think she is over-employed, I think Pine Bluff is going in the wrong direction with her. Too many things have happened, they can't all be wrong, said Foster.
With the room and the council divided, the resolution failed.
"This is a city 50.000 people you don't satisfy everybody but you get the job done and at this particular time the city is getting the job done as it comes to crime," said Mayor Redus.
The Hall family just hopes to see more done in their daughter's case.
"We want justice for Clea and I'll do that any means necessary," said Hall.
The chief has taken a the longtime investigator off the Hall case and says the department is waiting on forensic test results before updating the family.
