BENTONVILLE -- Sheriff Meyer Gilbert wants to change the image of the Benton County sheriff's office. He plans to start with new uniforms for deputies and better markings for some vehicles.
The Benton County Quorum Court appointed Gilbert to replace Kelley Cradduck, who resigned from office. On April 29 Cradduck pleaded no contest to tampering after being accused of asking sheriff's office employees to lie in an investigation being conducted by Arkansas State Police.
Gilbert wants the sheriff's office to get away from the black military uniform it now uses.
The plan is to go with green pants and beige shirts. All deputies, except those who work in the jail, will wear the same type of uniform, Gilbert said. Jailers will get new uniforms next year.
There also are plans to phase out the "ghost" decals on some vehicles, so people can clearly see they are interacting with a sheriff's office deputy, Gilbert said.
Gilbert, who didn't yet have costs for the new uniforms and vehicle decals, said he believes the money can be found in this year's budget.
Keshia Guyll, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said two vehicles outfitted with the new decals are on the road and four other vehicles are waiting to be updated.
New uniforms and better-marked vehicles were two things people who talked with Gilbert said they were concerned about.
Gilbert also has met with police chiefs in Bentonville and Rogers.
The mayors and police chiefs of Bentonville and Rogers mentioned a strained relationship with the sheriff's office in a memo they sent to County Judge Bob Clinard and the Quorum Court. The letter came out in the waning days of Cradduck's tenure.
Benton County justices of the peace got a look at the new decal when Gilbert drove a sheriff's office vehicle to the county administration parking lot before last month's Quorum Court meeting.
State Desk on 06/20/2016