Our View

Our View

A tip of the cap to Sgt. Bradley and the WM Police Department

Here lately all we’ve been hearing is how bad the crime is in Crittenden County’s largest municipality, and we listen to the “Johnny come lately” politicians jump on the political bandwagon calling for action when criminal activity has been going on in their neighborhoods and under their noses for as long as they can remember.

On the flip side, let it be made vividly clear that there have been concerned civil servants that have been doing something about criminal activity in West Memphis and have been doing a great job in weeding out the drug dealers, the gang members, the thugs who have been holding up convenience stores and those criminals that have been burglarizing our homes.

Who are they, you ask? They are the dedicated men and women of the West Memphis Police Department who place their lives on the line every single day to clean up a city that many politicians have simply turned a blind on to for way too long.

Among these law enforcement officers there is one individual who has been rightfully recognized as one of their very best in doing a job most of us would never consider doing.

We’d like to join the many other people in our community in recognizing West Memphis Police Sgt. Brent Bradley for being named 2017 Crittenden County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

You see, Sgt. Bradley is being recognized by his peers for what they can say is his “outstanding work” in ridding illegal drug activity not only in West Memphis but also Crittenden County.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Coe, who nominated Bradley for this honor, said he has been instrumental in leading investigations into the narcotics issues in West Memphis and his efforts along with those of other officers and detectives has resulted in more than 40 drug-related arrests and convictions.

We have said it before, and well continue to point out, that West Memphis has one of the best law enforcement agencies in the region and that is because of its professional leadership and its ability to attract the kind of dedicated individuals such as Sgt. Bradley to “serve and protect” this community.

Let us make this point by saying Sgt. Bradley represents a high number of excellent law enforcement officers, including those like Chief Donald Oakes, Detective Ken Mitchell, Captain Robert Langston, Captain Joe Baker, and many others.

We’d be amiss in not using this opportunity to remind ourselves that Sgt. Bradley is the second West Memphis civil servant honored on a state level.

Just recently, West Memphis School Superintendent Jon Collins was named Superintendent of the Year for his efforts in making West Memphis schools among the best in all of Arkansas.

While we’ve been focused on some of the negatives lately let us again remind ourselves that there are a number of dedicated West Memphians who are making a positive difference and who will play an active part in addressing the issues. Their actions certainly speak louder than words, wouldn’t you agree?