Monday, Pine Bluff's Fraternal Order of Police plans to continue its push to reinstate the city's former police chief. Pine Bluff's mayor
fired the chief last week. Monday night, FOP members will take their support of the chief to city council.
"I fought the good fight, you know, I ran the race,"
says former Pine Bluff Police Chief John Howell.
That race ended Monday when Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus unexpectedly fired Howell at their weekly meeting.
"The decision was made to go in a different direction," explained Redus.
But Redus wouldn't say what the different direction was.
"That's something at this particular point in time we're not sharing or discussing with the public due to legal situations," he said.
Redus may be forced to explain on Monday when FOP members flood city council requesting Howell's immediate reinstatement. That's something Weed and Seed Director Jesse Turner would like to see.
"The leaders have to have cooler heads, and when it comes to public safety, nothing should trump public safety, and if you get upset, walk away from it for a little bit and come back to it," says Turner.
Redus has the power to hire and fire the police chief. But Turner and the FOP think that should be turned back over to the Pine Bluff Civil Service Commission. For now, the city's police force continues fighting crime without a leader.
"Just take care out there. You know, remember there are old codgers like myself that care a lot about you, and, you know, maybe our spirit will be looking over their shoulders on dark nights," said Howell.
The police chief issue is nowhere to be found on the city council's agenda. A city council member said it can only be added with unanimous support. Right now, that's up in the air. The council has the power to reinstate the chief with a two-third's majority vote, but without it making the agenda that can't happen.
The Pine Bluff City Council meets Monday at 5:30.
