SPRINGDALE — City Council meetings will include a uniformed police officer, at the request of Mayor Doug Sprouse.
The new policy began with Tuesday’s meeting. Sprouse had the support of the council in the change, he said.
“We’ve seen all that is going on in the news,” Sprouse said. “I wanted to make sure we had a visible police presence.”
Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley noted recent events, including the Arizona shooting that left six people dead, created concern about safety at public events.
“It seemed to be the best time to have a uniformed presence in the meetings,” O’Kelley said.
O’Kelley or a representative attends council meetings, but not in uniform.
New Alderman Brad Bruns wrote to Sprouse asking for the officer, he said.
“Other council members have asked, too,” Bruns said. “I just put it in writing.”
The idea to station an officer at the meeting came before the Arizona shooting, said Jeff Harper, city attorney.
“We discussed this more than a year ago,” Harper said. “We didn’t carry through until now.”
Security in meetings first came up after six people died in a shooting at a Kirkwood, Mo., City Council meeting in February 2008, Harper said.
The idea resurfaced after an incident in December at a Panama City, Fla., school board meeting where a man died after he fired shots at board members. The man took his own life after he was hit by shots from a school security guard.
“This could happen anywhere,” Harper said. “People get upset over an issue.”
A uniformed officer attends University of Arkansas Board of Trustees meetings in Fayetteville, Bruns said. Bruns retired as a captain with the university police.
“I think it has a calming influence on the meeting,” he said.
A uniformed officer also attends Rogers council meetings, said Wayne Schoch, public information officer for the Rogers Police Department.
“Other officers watch all the time,” Schoch said, “seeing what was going on.”
The new policy could help Springdale officers learn more about the city government, O’Kelley said.
“I think it will be an educational opportunity for any officer I send,” O’Kelley said.