Jonesboro hires new police chief

Department veteran tapped

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin named police veteran Lt. Rick Elliott as the city's new police chief Thursday.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin named police veteran Lt. Rick Elliott as the city's new police chief Thursday.

JONESBORO -- Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin named police veteran Lt. Rick Elliott as the city's new police chief Thursday, saying he wanted to return respect and morale to the department after the former chief resigned over comments he made on social media about a reporter.

Elliott, 55, has 35 years of law enforcement experience, including 22 years at the Jonesboro Police Department.

"It's a new era in the Jonesboro Police Department," Perrin said during his announcement. "We need a fresh, new management style. I found that right candidate within the department's ranks."

The appointment was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from more than 150 police and city employees who attended the announcement. The ceremony, which included Elliott's wife pinning the chief's Badge No. 313 to Elliott's chest, was moved from a small room in the police station to the district courtroom to accommodate the crowd.

The appointment comes 11 days after former Police Chief Michael Yates resigned after Perrin suspended him for 30 days without pay. Yates had made comments on his Facebook page that were critical of the character and work of a reporter for The Jonesboro Sun who covered the Police Department.

Perrin had also ordered Yates to attend a seminar to learn social media etiquette and to issue an apology to the reporter, Sunshine Crump, and The Jonesboro Sun.

In his Aug. 25 resignation letter to Perrin, Yates wrote, "I let my anger and pride override my judgment and wisdom by saying a number of things that are unacceptable in my position."

Elliott said he realized his department has been criticized heavily over the past few years and vowed to help restore the community's faith in his officers.

In July 2012, the death of a man handcuffed in the back of a Jonesboro patrol car brought scrutiny by some civic leaders. The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a march of about 300 people through downtown Jonesboro in protest of the shooting death, which was ruled a suicide by the state Crime Laboratory.

"Our Police Department's history has not always been positive. We have faced great challenges," Elliott said. "Our department has been tested. As a progressive Police Department, we take that seriously. No one is harder on the Police Department than itself."

Elliott also asked for community support of his department and asked residents to report any crimes that they see.

"Public safety is not a spectator sport," he said. "If you see something happen, call it, text it to 911, let us know."

Elliott worked as a reserve officer for the Jonesboro Police Department from 1979 to 1981 before becoming a patrol officer for the Blytheville Police Department. After working there for 11 years, he returned to Jonesboro's department, where he's been since.

He has served in the patrol and criminal investigation divisions, was the head of the K-9 unit and was the commander of the department's crisis negotiation team.

He was one of the first officers on the scene during the March 24, 1998, shootings at Westside Middle School near Jonesboro and has often lectured on educational safety.

Perrin said it was Elliott's dedication to the job that led him to the chief's position.

The mayor said he received applications from across the state but opted to hire from within the department. He narrowed it down to three candidates and then made his decision to appoint Elliott.

"I had to have someone in there to make sure we didn't lose more morale," Perrin said. "The department's morale was going through tough times.

"Rick has been through all the departments," he said. "I knew we had the right person in the department."

Elliott began serving as chief of the 200-member department and will earn $77,580, Perrin said. Capt. Tim Eads, who was named interim chief after Yates' resignation, will become the assistant chief.

"I think this is a good move for the department," said Jonesboro Alderman Mitch Johnson, who is the chairman of the city's Public Safety Commission. "Rick is well respected by his officers. This will really boost morale."

State Desk on 09/05/2014

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