Armed task force to patrol streets (Paragould, Arkansas)

Paragould Daily Press ^ | December 15, 2012 | Ryan Saylor

[tje]

In response to a recent increase in crime, Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill and Police Chief Todd Stovall offered residents at a town hall meeting Thursday night at West View Baptist Church what could be considered an extreme solution — armed officers patrolling the streets on foot.

Stovall told the group of almost 40 residents that beginning in 2013, the department would deploy a new street crimes unit to high crime areas on foot to take back the streets.

"[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their neck," Stovall said. "If you're out walking, we're going to stop you, ask why you're out walking, check for your ID."

Stovall said while some people may be offended by the actions of his department, they should not be.

"We're going to do it to everybody," he said. "Criminals don't like being talked to."

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Armed citizens from that area should form neighborhood patrols.

I disagree. I have been involved with local police and citizen watch patrols. Very often, things get way out of control too fast among the citizen patrols. People over react to a what they perceive to be "situations."

Armed police presence is a good thing but stopping people at random is not good and goes way over the line. There will be problems.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

“Innocent until proven guilty is still a concept in this land...”

I agree with your overall post 100 per cent, but the term “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” has always irked me.

I don’t mean to nitpick, but the word “Until” makes it sound as though guilt is a foregone conclusion.

I much prefer the words “Innocent UNLESS Proven Guilty.”

[VOR78]

You mention New Orleans, but ironically, that’s been part of the problem. The refugees from Katrina came here and never left. Almost everyone here acknowledges that its a big contributing factor.

Otherwise, ASU attracts some problems from Little Rock and Memphis (the other colleges are tiny and almost exclusively draw from the locals). That doesn’t help either.

[douginthearmy]

Land of the free. -yeah right.

[Eastbound]

Is that something like “Pippers, Pliss?”

[girlangler]

I was offered a job at the newspaper there years ago. Turned it down.

[GBA]

Something changed between 2003 and 2005.

Check out the City-data page on Paragould and scroll down to the chart "Crime in Paragould by Year" and note the bottom line "Crime Index" number.

What accounts for such a jump? New Sheriff or Chief in town? Agenda 21?

Other than the change in crime stats and the new paramilitary police force, it looks like a very nice town with a larger than average church going population.

[TheCPA]

My high school classmate Jerry Don “JD” Stephenson used to be the Chief of Police in Paragould. He retired a few years ago. This new Chief sounds like a tyrant.

[thouworm]

http://www.infowars.com/armed-swat-teams-to-patrol-streets-in-arkansas-city/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/why-is-an-arkansas-city-deploying-police-with-ar-15s-demand-citizens-show-i-d-on-the-streets/

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/12/17/paragould-to-put-officers-with-assaults-rifles-on-the-streets

[Altariel]

“”They may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it.””

—Police Chief Todd Stovall

I suppose the Arkansas freepers on the DOGGIE PING list would be interested in knowing they have a police chief who openly is supporting “papers please”, in their fair state.

[Altariel]

Of course, the State needs more protection against the Gun-Wielding Peasants, Comrade!

(Do I really need a sarc tag?)

[Jane Long]

All in the name equality... I wonder if there is anything the American people won't accept?

I've been wondering the same thing, lately. And, we're so nice about it...we just sit there and take it. (sigh)

[Altariel]

Disturbing news.

[Altariel]

“Times have changed” provides an excellent excuse for government overreach and producing an outright test case for a police state, doesn’t it?

“They may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it.””

Innocent men and women have to prove they have not violated the law?

Is that the country you want to live in?

[Altariel]

I believe the Arkansas ping list would be interested in what this police chief is proposing.

Let’s end this before it becomes a nationwide problem.

[444Flyer]

"Chief" Stovall, "We're going to do it to everybody," he said. "Criminals don't like being talked to."

Spoken like a true Blackshirt!

They're just here to eliminate 'crimethink'. What could possibly go wrong?

[444Flyer]

““It’s for your own safety, citizen, now face the wall and spread em’.””

That’s Biden’s line:

http://www.newser.com/story/160360/joe-biden-spread-your-legs-youre-gonna-be-frisked.html