Police Keeping Close Eye on Growing Crime in Northwest Arkansas
By: Marissa Stevens, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: September 5, 2012
Crime seems to be on the rise in Northwest Arkansas and growth is a definite factor, so police are closely monitoring any dangerous trends to try and prevent future crime scenes.
"Law enforcement in general is still going to try to do the best job that they can do no matter what we're given. That's the reason that we became police officers," says Lt. Kevin Lewis with the Springdale Police Department (SPD).
Growth in Northwest Arkansas is inevitable and crime is unpredictable, so the SPD is being proactive.
"Sometimes you have violent crimes that are going to go up and then they're going to go back down. People moving into the area is so much of a factor. People moving out of the area is so much of a factor. The more officers that we have, I mean it's pretty much a given, the safer you're going to be," Lt. Lewis says.
Lt. Lewis also says while the SPD would love to hire additional officers, those decisions are largely based on budgets, so crews on duty are working diligently to protect.
"As far as telling our citizens that they need to be scared, I'm not about to do that because I know that we're going to do every bit as good as what we can. I know Fayetteville will do the same, Springdale, I know Rogers will, I know Bentonville will, Washington County, Benton County. We're going to do whatever it takes, police work in general, has always done whatever it takes to get the job done," he says.
Stepping up patrols, reaching out to the community, and utilizing a Crime Suppression Unit are all ways officers are responding to the wave of worries.
"I do think there's a possibility that we will continue to see more crime and more violent crime even," says Lt. Lewis.
But Lt. Lewis wants everyone to know, police are striving to keep you safe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"We have a good police department here. We have a lot of dedicated men and women and they're going to give it their best. They're going to give their best every day they're working. I don't know that you can ask anything more," he says.
Lewis also says people should always be aware of their surroundings, try to avoid obviously dangerous situations, and call police if they see anything suspicious.
"Law enforcement in general is still going to try to do the best job that they can do no matter what we're given. That's the reason that we became police officers," says Lt. Kevin Lewis with the Springdale Police Department (SPD).
Growth in Northwest Arkansas is inevitable and crime is unpredictable, so the SPD is being proactive.
"Sometimes you have violent crimes that are going to go up and then they're going to go back down. People moving into the area is so much of a factor. People moving out of the area is so much of a factor. The more officers that we have, I mean it's pretty much a given, the safer you're going to be," Lt. Lewis says.
Lt. Lewis also says while the SPD would love to hire additional officers, those decisions are largely based on budgets, so crews on duty are working diligently to protect.
"As far as telling our citizens that they need to be scared, I'm not about to do that because I know that we're going to do every bit as good as what we can. I know Fayetteville will do the same, Springdale, I know Rogers will, I know Bentonville will, Washington County, Benton County. We're going to do whatever it takes, police work in general, has always done whatever it takes to get the job done," he says.
Stepping up patrols, reaching out to the community, and utilizing a Crime Suppression Unit are all ways officers are responding to the wave of worries.
"I do think there's a possibility that we will continue to see more crime and more violent crime even," says Lt. Lewis.
But Lt. Lewis wants everyone to know, police are striving to keep you safe 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"We have a good police department here. We have a lot of dedicated men and women and they're going to give it their best. They're going to give their best every day they're working. I don't know that you can ask anything more," he says.
Lewis also says people should always be aware of their surroundings, try to avoid obviously dangerous situations, and call police if they see anything suspicious.
Comments
i used to live in nw ark and when i left there the illegal and mexican population had just started to increase, maybe its just me but do you think that maybe just maybe the increase in their population and the increase in crime might be related
lloyd b.
September 5, 2012 at 10:29 am
