Washington County Panel Considers Animal Control Change

FAYETTEVILLE -- One of Washington County's two animal control officers would be an unarmed civilian instead of a sheriff's deputy under a proposal before the justices of the peace.

The change was one of several updates and proposals considered by the Quorum Court's personnel and law enforcement committees Monday evening. The proposal is a request from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and goes now to the county's finance committee, which meets today at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting Information

Washington County Finance And Budget Committee

When: Today, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Quorum Courtroom, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville

On the Agenda: A proposal to make one of two animal control officers a civilian instead of a sheriff’s deputy

Overcrowding and changes to medical care at the Washington County Detention Center also were on the evening's agenda.

One of the county's animal control positions has been sitting empty for months because most deputies are reluctant to take a long-term animal control detour in their career, Chief Deputy Jay Cantrell told the justices of the peace. Changing the position to a civilian is meant to help fill the position more quickly and ease the strain on the single working animal control officer.

"It's just not been well-received," Cantrell said. "We find that (deputies) just want to use it as a stepping stone."

This new person would have neither a sidearm nor the power to make arrests. Her or his duties would mostly cover stray cat and dog calls and serving court summons for vicious animals, Cantrell said.

Several justices of the peace, including Eva Madison and Rick Cochran of Fayetteville, said they had serious concerns about the shift. The officer would also investigate animal cruelty, a felony, they noted.

"I want my animal control officer to be a law enforcement officer, because he's enforcing the law," said Barbara Fitzpatrick of Fayetteville.

Rex Bailey and Tom Lundstrum, both of Springdale, countered their city has employed a civilian animal control officer without incident. Candy Clark of Fayetteville fell on their side, saying the position needed to be filled.

"I'm willing to give this a try," she said.

In other business, Cantrell said last week's special session of the Arkansas General Assembly should ease at least some of the pressure on crowded county jails. More than 2,400 state inmates, including about 200 in Washington County, are waiting in local jails because state facilities don't have the space or money to hold them.

State legislators approved about $6 million to pay for 604 beds throughout those state facilities. They include 58 beds at the Northwest Arkansas Work Release Center in Springdale.

"Obviously it's not the cure-all and end-all for this, but it is going to offer some relief," Cantrell said.

Finally, Detention Major Randall Denzer said the sheriff's office had found several interested doctors and nurses to boost its on-site medical care. The jail's two doctors earlier this year decided to leave this month.

"I think in a couple weeks we'll know something to get started," Denzer said.

NW News on 07/08/2014

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