Little Rock FBI agents hosted state and local law enforcement leaders yesterday from across the state to discuss violent crime and violence against officers, KFSM reports:

“In the incidence of homicides, in our major metropolitan areas, in some instances, it’s higher than the city of Chicago, the number of homicides in the state is certainly disturbing,” said Special Agent James Dawson.

The meeting included members of the FBI and DEA; the Arkansas State Police; and leaders from seven city police departments. It comes in the wake of a horrific scene last Sunday, when a Fort Smith police officer had his throat slashed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. He was hospitalized and is now home recovering.

Advertisement

The D-G’s report includes a roundup of the data presented at the meeting, which Dawson said showed that Arkansas has seen a “disproportionately high” rate of violent crime against police:

Discussion centered on preliminary data from the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted program, which tracks yearly deaths and injuries — accidental and criminal — across the country.

As of Oct. 1, the program has logged 54 criminal killings of officers, passing the 41 felonious deaths reported by this time last year as well as 2020’s total of 46, according to the data released.

According to the data, the South region, which includes Arkansas and 15 other states, has accounted for 30 of the 54 criminal killings of police officers, as well as 18 of the 42 accidental deaths of officers. The 13-state West region has accounted for 12 criminal killings of officers, and the 12-state Midwest region has seen eight so far this year. The Northeast region has not had a criminal killing of an officer this year, according to the FBI data.

 

Advertisement

 

Invest in the future of great journalism in Arkansas

Join the ranks of the 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts who know that the Arkansas Times is the go-to source for tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been on the front lines of the fight for truth, and with your support, we can do even more. By subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers and expand our coverage. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference with your subscription or donation to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Open line and Thursday’s coronavirus report Next article Ballet Arkansas’s ‘Great Gatsby’ is full of duet work and fringe