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.
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.