In the News

On Sunday, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and the city board of directors held a special meeting to hear from Chief Ken Buckner to address the sudden spike in crime.

"We know that we're all in this together," said Stodola. "As a community, together, I know we can solve this problem, or I know we can get a stop or a slow down to the violence that's occurring in the streets."

During his presentation to a packed room at City Hall, Buckner explained the spike could be linked different things like retaliation, gang violence, disputes on social media, parenting, a young person's environment, and previously convicted criminals getting out of prison and committing crimes.

"The old ties are still there," said Buckner. "So, some of the people these [officers] put in prison 20 years ago, they're getting out. And now they're being joined by their 17, 18, 15-year-old sons and daughters, who are growing up in that seed."

Buckner laid out the steps the police department takes to fight crime, including focusing on hot spots and engaging the community in crime fighting. But he also explained the department is facing issues hiring and retaining good officers.

When it comes to curbing crime, Buckner says police can't do it all.

"People who are the most impacted by the things that we're seeing have to have a significant role in the solution, because that is when you see long term success," said Buckner. "That is when you see measurable success. It has to come from people living in those conditions."

Congressman French Hill, who also attended the meeting, agreed with Buckner.

"I think we should have a fully staffed, beautifully trained police department, and that's important; it's critical," says Hill. "But this is an issue where we have to reestablish the morality in our city."