At the recent Batesville City Council meeting, Police Chief John Scarbrough presented a detailed monthly report highlighting a significant uptick in police activity. Calls increased to 1,961 in November, compared to October’s 1,830. While accidents decreased from 64 to 52, arrests and incident reports rose sharply, with 32 arrests and 62 incidents in November, up from 18 arrests and 48 incidents the previous month.
Scarbrough also provided updates on technology improvements within the department. The installation of computer systems in police vehicles is nearly complete, though one program is experiencing technical difficulties. The previously faulty eCite system, which was not communicating with the courts, has been fixed, enabling officers to efficiently complete reports and issue citations directly from their vehicles.
While the department’s application for the Arkansas Public Safety Grant was unsuccessful, Scarbrough emphasized ongoing efforts to secure other grants to enhance operations.
New Investments Approved for Law Enforcement
To support the department’s operations, Scarbrough proposed four expenditures totaling $46,805, which the council unanimously approved:
- Cellebrite: A digital investigative platform ($20,955.63).
- PowerDMS: A database software for managing departmental documents ($16,775).
- Virtual Academy: An online training platform for officers ($1,575).
- License Plate Readers: Tools to enhance vehicle monitoring and public safety ($7,500).
The funding for these expenditures will come from the city’s alcohol tax revenue.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Councilman Robb Roberts requested that future reports include data on speeding warnings and tickets issued, to provide greater transparency and insights into traffic enforcement efforts. Chief Scarbrough committed to adding this information starting in 2025.
With these technological and operational upgrades, the Batesville Police Department aims to enhance public safety and better serve the community in the coming year.
