Walker named chief

Ryan Walker has been named chief of the Pea Ridge Police Department.

Walker, who most recently served as the department's lieutenant, was selected by Mayor Jackie Crabtree from a field of 24 applicants, the mayor announced Thursday, Feb. 26. Walker was scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday, March 3.

"I think it's an honor and a privilege and I'm very excited to watch this department as it continues to grow," Walker said. "I look forward to serving the people of Pea Ridge."

He said he wants to set one-, two- and five-year goals and increase the overall communication and relationship with the residents of Pea Ridge. He hopes to begin a Facebook page for the Police Department and plans to review policies and procedures to make sure those are up to date.

"When you direct a ship, you can't just turn it 90 degrees. You have to make subtle changes in the direction you want to go," Walker said. "There might be a slight restructuring," Walker said, explaining that he hopes to change the rank structure to utilize all officers' expertise.

When asked why Walker received the appointment, Crabtree said, "With the background he's had and with his knowledge of what he has going on with the department and his qualifications. His management skills from the other jobs he's had, over the years he's been here ... with the Fire Department and all he helped to do there, being a sergeant, being a lieutenant (with the Police Department)."

Walker was a captain with the Pea Ridge Fire Department, a position from which he said he has stepped down. He will remain as a firefighter/emergency medical technician, working a shift, but plans to gradually reduce that until he is only working as a volunteer again. He began work with the Pea Ridge Police Department in 2006. Prior to that he worked for Guthrie Heating and Air and Sonic.

"He's starting at the same salary right now -- $49,056 (he earned as the lieutenant). I'll be adjusting that some next week and looking at it after 90 days," Crabtree said. "He'll be off the Fire Department. That was his wishes also. He understands that being chief is his primary responsibility."

Walker said he wants to add in someone who can help with community events and expand the community program, such as Touch a Truck, the car seat safety program, participating in reading to children at the library, the Lunch Buddies program. Walker said he hopes to initiate a "good ticket" program whereby people, mostly youth, are recognized for doing well, like crossing the street in a cross walk and wearing a bicycle helmet when riding a bike.

"We'll hire a 12th guy," he said, adding that he hopes to have someone selected for the school resource officer in time to send them to Little Rock this summer for training.

Officer Lon Brown, previously the SRO, is back in the department.

"We got him back on the street to help us; we're short-handed. Instead of just one officer in one school, now we have all the officers walking through all the schools. I'm interacting, too, just walking through," Walker said.

Crabtree thanked the officers for their patience throughout the hiring process.

"There was unknown ... but they've continue to do their job," Crabtree said. "We've got a really good group of officers I'm really proud of. And I appreciate Tim's (former Chief Tim Ledbetter's) time while he was here; he established a good group of officers."