Cleburne
County Sheriff Chris Brown was the presenter for the August 22 meeting of the
Rotary Club of Heber Springs. Sheriff Brown’s remarks began with
accountability -- maintaining a high standard of conduct for the department. As
he leads the Sheriff’s department, Sheriff Brown said that his own personal and
professional standard is based on The Constitution of the United States, the
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, and the Bible. He also stated that he
recognized that the deputies, in a broader sense, represent law enforcement
officers as a group, and said that the same high standards are expected of all
deputies in the department as they “protect and serve.”
Since his election, Sheriff Brown has spearheaded several
changes and new initiatives within the department, all geared toward being more
efficient and effective, and allowing deputies to do their jobs better. The
Sheriff’s office website has been updated, and the public can sign up on the
website for regular press releases issued by the department. The public can
also receive the same press releases via the Sheriff’s department Facebook
page.
The department has worked closely with deputies allowing
them more control when it comes to scheduling choices, changing the schedule
from a 3 on, 3 off, to a two week rotation schedule. Deputies are also
receiving monthly training opportunities at a minimum of two hours per month.
In March, the department began to raise funds for the
training and purchase of the new K9 officer. Sheriff Brown sought the public’s
help with the fundraising, because he said so many had approached him with
concern about the drug issue in the county. With the help of the public, more
than $12,000 has been raised toward the expense of the new K9 officer, and the
dog is currently in training for the department.
The department has also implemented more community
involvement activities, participating in Springfest and other public relations
events, and hosting a monthly Donuts with Deputies program the 3rd
Thursday of every month from 7 to 9AM. Deputies will be available to have
breakfast across the county in specified locations each month. In building public and community relations, Sheriff
Brown stated that “Integrity is the basis of community trust,” and he
challenged attendees at the meeting with the same challenge he has issued to
his deputies. “Challenge yourself to a higher standard,” he said, “and stay
there. Never strive to meet the minimum.”
The Object of Rotary is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise." The Rotary Club of Heber Springs meets each Tuesday at noon on the ASU-Heber Springs Campus. For more information about the Rotary Club of Heber Springs, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/TheRotaryClubofHeberSpringsAR.
