KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Pine Bluff votes to look into PBDP's management after controversy

By Matt Johnson

PINE BLUFF – The Pine Bluff City Council took the first steps in authorizing an outside investigation into its police department, a week after a public feud between the city's top two police officers.

They voted 7-1 Tuesday night to let Mayor Carl Redus look into costs and specifics regarding hiring a consultant to evaluate the Pine Bluff Police Department's management practices. Redus has 30 days to find out cost estimates and report back to the council, where they would need to make another vote to officially seek bids for a consultant.

Some residents feel an outside investigator may help the city move past the tumultuous week that saw Chief Brenda Davis-Jones and Assistant Chief Ivan Whitfield feud publicly.

"Right now the mayor can do whatever he wants to do and the police chief as well," said Jesse Turner, executive director of Interested Citizens for Voter Registration, a local organization against violence.

The whole idea of an investigation was sponsored by Alderman Thelma Walker after Whitfield was controversially fired by his boss, and then re-instated by the council days later.

"We're at a point where we're beginning to grow, so with that there are growing pains, and when you have those, and when you have that you go looking for the professionals," said Redus.

Mayor Redus says this is just procedure and there's nothing he would change if it were up to him. But a costly consultant may have something else to say, and frustrated residents like Turner already have recommendations of their own.

"If you're going to bring in a consultant, if you're going to pay him, then he or she should be looking at all of public safety, not just the police department," said Turner.