Powell named Cave Springs police chief

 Joe Powell
Joe Powell

Cave Springs Mayor Travis Lee has named Joe Powell to take over as chief of the Police Department beginning Monday.

Powell, 44, a former sheriff and police chief, recently moved back to Bentonville. Powell said he plans to strengthen the relationship between the department and the community.

Chief change

Michael Caudill, former chief at Cave Springs, submitted his resignation Dec. 2. Caudill’s last day was Tuesday. Charlie Fanning, who has served as interim chief, will continue to serve as interim until Monday. Joe Powell will start as police chief Monday.

Source: Staff report

Charlie Fanning will serve as interim chief until Powell takes the appointment, Lee said.

"We anticipate Mr. Powell's experience, education, and extensive people skills to be valuable assets as part of the management team here in the City of Cave Springs," Lee said in an email.

Powell returned to Northwest Arkansas after a stint as sheriff of Sherman County, Texas. His four-year term of office began Jan. 1, 2013, according to Sherman County records. He left Sept. 30 and started work as a deputy at the Benton County Sheriff's Office the same day, according to Benton County records.

"The move was for my kids," Powell said.

Powell left Arkansas for Texas in 2010, taking the position of police chief at the Stratford Police Department. There he built community relationships by organizing Easter egg hunts, singing for the elderly and breaking out the karaoke machine for city park gatherings, Powell said. In Stratford he was known as "DJ Joe." His local popularity led to his run for sheriff as an outsider candidate, Powell said.

People need to have good experiences with police, Powell said. Children, the elderly and law enforcement are top priorities for him, he said.

"I want the kids to smile. I want them to love us and I want them to come to us if they have a problem," Powell said.

Before moving to Texas he had been chief in Verona, Mo., for about two years, but had lived in Northwest Arkansas. Powell said he has been an officer in Lowell and Cave Springs.

Benton County records indicate he was a deputy from 2000 to 2006.

Powell said he missed a lot of time with family because of his involvement with law enforcement. He had an epiphany when he found out his daughter who lives in Rogers was involved in dance for two years and he hadn't known about it, he said. He resigned his Texas commission, a new sheriff was appointed and Powell moved "home" to Bentonville.

Powell, who received a bachelor's degree from University of Phoenix this year, said he intends to complete a master's degree in public administration in the next two years. He plans to teach at Northwest Arkansas Community College this year.

He said he plans to institute building checks where officers drop off a card to let people know they had inspected the building overnight. Community members in Cave Springs should expect to see him stop to talk with them or pick up a game of basketball, Powell said.

NW News on 12/17/2015

Correction: This article previously misreported Powell's work history. The errors have been corrected.

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