Earle officer to attend WM Police Academy

Earle officer to attend WM Police Academy

Lewis to get training at no cost to city

news@theeveningtimes.com

Earle will be sending one of its police officers for training at the academy in West Memphis and at no cost to the city.

The City Council agreed to send a letter of sponsorship to allow Officer Nico Lewis to attend the 15week program.

“It is certainly an improvement over having to send them to south Arkansas and having to pay for it,” said Councilwoman Jimmie Barham.

In the past, the city, like most others in Arkansas, have sent officers to basic training in Pocahontas or Camden.

West Memphis brought back its own Basic Police Training Program in August for the first time in nearly four decades.

“It’s new,” said Street Department Supervisor Nemi Matthews, who is also a part-time police officer.

“This is just the second class.”

New police recruits are required to attend a 13-week basic training class within the first nine months of employment.

West Memphis added an extra two weeks of training which exceeds the state standards to give officers the training they will need to perform their duties.

Like many small departments, Earle has seen a constant stream of turnover in its police department. In the past, the city has paid to send officers to basic training at city expense only to see them move on to other police departments.

Earle is looking to hire two more part-time officers and currently has seven part-time officers, but no full time officers. The department is also operating without a police chief, which the city expects to fill after a new mayor is elected.

Lewis told the city council that he will still be able to continue on the job while attending the academy.

“I can work Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday day,” Lewis said.

By Mark Randall