Officers pull double duty

A job in a stereo shop as a teen-ager provided police Sgt.

Ryan Walker with skills he uses now in his job on the Pea Ridge Police Department. Walker and Cpl. Mitch Brown saved the city money by installing the equipment necessary to outfit the department’s two newest vehicles.

Walker, who worked in a stereo shop throughout high school and college, said he was working on a double major in electronic engineering and electronic technician at Southern Arkansas University Tech before he became a police officer.

Brown said he has spent a lifetime working on his own equipment - electronic, computer and vehicles. He uses many of those skills regularly for the benefit of the Police Department.

“I am grateful to the two officers’ diligence in working to equip the cars,” Police Chief Tim Ledbetter said. “Their work resulted in a savings of about $2,500.

“I appreciate the City Council for working with us on our budgets allowing us to purchase the cars.”

The department recently purchased two 2011 Dodge Chargers on the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration Office of State Procurement program.

“We try to update the fleet regularly to keep the mileage down and the vehicles safe,” Ledbetter said.

The two officers installed a partition between the front and back seats, lights, sirens, radios and all the necessary electronic equipment.

When vehicles are retired from the department, they are placed on public auction.