3 arrested in Faulkner County as part of a U.S. Marshal's sweep

FALCON is an annual U.S. Marshals' Service operation that netted 31 fugitives in the eastern district; three of those were caught in Faulkner County. For the past few years the Marshals Service has toured the country to helped local law enforcement agencies apprehend criminals with this program. Log Cabin reporter Stefanie Sampson writes,

Nationwide, the FALCON operation cleared more than 10,419 felony warrants during the seven-day operation. According to [Jim Hays of the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Arkansas], task force members arrested 462 fugitives wanted for a variety of violent sex offenses, 311 fugitives for other felony sex crimes, 783 unregistered sex offenders, 73 homicide arrests with 87 warrants cleared, and 163 documented gang members. They also cleared 2,941 drug cases, and seized 111 guns, more than $120,265 in cash, and more than 91 kilograms of narcotics, according to information provided by Hays.

Don't get us wrong, we think this program is great but since the state of Arkansas has seen an increase in crime recently and since this county has millions in past due fines shouldn't more have been done? After all 31 fugitives out of 10,419 warrants cleared nationally is only 0.30 % for the entire eastern district.
Our question is where did they put those fugitives that were arrested, in the crowded county jail? One might also wonder about the crimes these individuals are accused of committing, were they committed in this county? In this county and this state we have an epidemic of increasing crime and crowded jails. We need more that this token gesture offered by the Marshals' Service, we need a real effort on the part of our law enforcement community.

Speaking of the crowded jail, at this months Quorum Court meeting we heard about construction delays that continue to push back the opening of our new jail. The jail that was suppose to open in November will still remain closed for at least another month while work is done on the floor.

The new jail has been touted as being a much needed addition for our county. When it's finally completed we have been told that the sheriff's office will focus their attention on the past due fines and getting more criminals off our streets. If that be the case then shouldn't their attention have been to finish the jail sooner?

At the last Quorum court meeting jail administrator Bobby Brown tells the court that no work has been done in weeks leaving one to wonder how they could simply sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting when all they had to do was call the County Judge's office and complain. Heck they could have simply walked across the court yard and complain in person. But they sit idly by and do nothing until asked about the progress by members of the Quorum Court.

At that meeting JP Johnnie Wells when asked about the cost of these delays stated it isn't costing the county any extra money, we just can't put inmate in their yet. Since the Quorum Court refuses to use a collection agency to collect fines and since the new jail still isn't completed the county has no effective way to collect fines and this does cost all of us.

This brings us to our last point in this post, money. There is a commercial that's been playing lately where Senator Tracy Steel is telling low income Arkansans about a discounted phone service for people who make 135% of the poverty level. The commercial states that a family of 4 making less than $27,000 qualifies for this government subsidy. Did you know that nearly all the deputies in this county make less than this amount?

In a past comment posted by Deputy Jason Bell it was noted that he, a deputy of nine years, makes less than 25,000. He said,

This is an interesting bit of information......the City of Oppelo. (A very small city between Morrilton and Perryville), just started a police department. Their starting salary for a full time officer is a little over 25,000 dollars per year. That is a little more than I make, and I have been with this agency going on nine years. Also, a Sergeant at Vilonia Police Department makes almost 16 dollars an hour,
[. . .]
We, the deputies, need citizens to attend these county meetings and help us get a raise. There should not be such a gap in pay. Research it sometime. Check Conway P.D.'s salaries and then check ours. Our dedication and loyalty has not been rewarded.

This could explain why there is a big turn over of deputies in the department. We have been told that the county has lost 33 deputies over the past few years. Something must be done to keep our deputies here. Better training and better benefits are needed to keep accomplish this. Isn't it time for the Sheriff and the Quorum Court to get serious about the collection of delinquent fines and the completion on the new jail?