KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-Mayor Speaks Out About Cherokee Village Police

Mayor Speaks Out About Cherokee Village Police

CHEROKEE VILLAGE, AR (KAIT) - - City council members and Mayor Lloyd Hefley fired Police Chief Scott Goodwin, demoted Sergeant Ric Morris, and made Mayor Hefley acting Police Chief.  

Mr. Hefley told Region 8 News he made these changes to the department because the department needed a change of leadership. "Police officers have sent me a letter saying they had no confident in their leaders, and as mayor I felt that it was my duty to solve that," said Mr. Hefley.

While Hefley said he wanted a change of leadership in the department, resident John Walters said the mayor let the wrong ones go. "By firing these two men, they have put our department back eight years. There is no confidence in our department.   What good is a police department if you can't call them," said Walters.

The mayor said he made the decision after receiving a letter of complaint from other Cherokee Village Police, but one officer still currently on the force, is being investigated for allegedly making threats to daycare center owner Amber Despain. "I have an order of protection against him.   He is not allowed to be around me or my children, but no one in the police department is doing anything about it," said Despain.

Mayor Hefley says he would like to ensure the safety of the people of Cherokee Village.

"They are safe we have professional police officers on duty and they are doing their job and they can be confident they are doing it professionally," said Hefley.

Mayor Hefley is conducting interviews to fill the position of Cherokee Village police chief.