PRAIRIE CREEK -- The Benton County Sheriff's Office opened a fourth substation Thursday, which will give deputies a closer base and a heightened community presence, officials said.
"It's long overdue," Sheriff Shawn Holloway said.
The 1,500-square-foot office is in a rented building on Arkansas 12 across from Prairie Creek Auto Body and close to Beaver Lake. Rent is $1,000 per month, said Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, public information officer. No one will be at the substation at all times, but deputies can come and go when they need to meet with the public or take reports, she said.
"I think it's probably the best $1,000 we've spent," she said. "With the amount of time the deputies are spending out here. It just made sense."
Deputies have had to drive back to the Bentonville office -- about 11 miles away -- to administer a blood alcohol content test or take a report, which wasn't only an inconvenience, but lengthened response time if another person in the area had a problem, said Deputy Tony Park, who is the Lake Patrol supervisor.
A portable blood-alcohol testing machine will make it easier for deputies to deal with drinking and driving boaters, Park said. The substation also has a garage that will hold equipment, including water skis, Jenkins said.
"Our response time is really what we are cutting down on," Park said. "It's going cut down everything and make everything easier."
Anyone with a problem can use the outside call box to reach dispatch. Prairie Creek doesn't have a police department. While the substation will not operate like a police station with someone present all day, Jenkins said, "it's a place for residents, business owners and passersby to know that Benton County Sheriff's Office is out here."
Jenkins said the community has been extremely supportive, pointing to the food and drinks provided by local businesses for the substation's open house. She said just having the visible building can deter crime.
Liz Bruce, location supervisor of the First Security Bank down the road, said, "We are just so excited that they are here. We are out here in basically the middle of nowhere, and there is always a concern about robberies. This is going to be an asset for the community and businesses, especially the bank."
With the Sheriff's Office in the heart of the county, Jenkins said Sheriff's Office now has the four corners covered. Substations are in Siloam Springs, Avoca and Gravette. Jenkins said she doesn't see adding another substation, but the Sheriff's Office might consider expanding the Prairie Creek office and have someone there depending on how much traffic it generates.
NW News on 06/23/2017