Hughes AR mayor wants to reactivate police department

HUGHES, Ark. — Residents in Hughes Arkansas are voicing their concerns after the town’s police force was designated inactive by the state, and removed from service.

Hughes Mayor Lincoln Barnett assured residents on Facebook Wednesday that he is determined to quickly get his police department back to serving and protecting.

“That is something that is a serious priority for our community,” said Barnett.

The action comes after the department failed to stay in compliance with Arkansas law enforcement training standards.

“My administration has been working with “standards” to have our department returned to active status as soon as possible. Of course, that does take some time,” he said.

According to those standards, an inactive law enforcement agency is one that “existed and operated under state law or local ordinance in the past, but that currently does not exist or has not operated for at least six months.”

“This news was revealed to me following the recent departure of a former department head,” said Barnett.

It’s unclear if that former department head was former Police Chief Cortez Bowers, whose social media feud with a Hughes resident came to a head in the Mayor’s office on April 4.

Regardless, the lack of police presence is a concern for many Hughes residents we spoke with.

“A small town needs a reliable police department. Someone that we can expect to come out if we have break-ins, or (for) anything we might need,” said a business owner.

Mayor Barnett says he plans to meet with the state on Friday and again in May to have his Department returned to active status.

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