PINE BLUFF, AR – Pine Bluff police confirm that Assistant Police Chief Ivan Whitfield and Detective Marty Harrison are on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation. Police would not confirm if their absence is a result of the two not having their weapons at the time of a routine inspection.
Pine Bluff Police announced Thursday that 2 officers were put on paid administrative leave pending the conclusion of an internal administrative investigation.
"If there's an allegation of some possible wrongdoing then that person on administrative leave they deserve every opportunity and all energy placed into the investigation," said Lt. Bob Rawlinson, spokesman for the Pine Bluff Police Department.
Their absences come on the same day the chief ordered officers to bring in their weapons for inspection.
Sources tell us investigators found a department-issued gun at a recent crime scene, and results from a state crime lab will determine if that's the case.
"So there was not a gun found outside of the department that belongs to the police department? Can you confirm or deny?" I asked.
"Right now I can't go any further," said Lt. Rawlinson.
Lt. Rawlinson says they inspect officers' weapons all the time. This time though, it's so they can become an accredited law enforcement agency. Called the gold standard in public safety, the Commission Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agency, or CALEA, requires rigorous standards to be considered among the elite.
It's yet to be determined if the actions of two officers will derail the plan.
Whitfield is the only candidate to announce for Jefferson County Judge. That election will be held in May.
Pine Bluff Police said they would not be releasing any information about the investigation until it had been completed. Fox 16 reached out to Whitfield for comment about the situation, but our calls remain unanswered.
