Friends,

Our comprehensive strategy to reduce violent crime has led to true progress and real results. Over the last year, violent crime is down 6 percent and homicides are down 23 percent. Since 2019, we've seen a 5 percent decrease in violent crime and a 27 percent decline in homicides. We owe appreciation for those encouraging numbers primarily to the men and women who serve in public safety roles in the City of Little Rock.

Our skilled police force under Police Chief Heath Helton is the primary component of our holistic strategy. To maintain quality and effective personnel, LRPD is among the highest paid police agencies in Arkansas. Our approach to recruiting and retaining quality police officers is critical to crime reduction and prevention, and over the last two years we have reduced LRPD vacancies from around 100 to about 55. We have done so even as many long-time officers hired in the early 1990s have retired and created vacancies.

To continue to fill these vacancies, the Little Rock Board of Directors will be asked on Tuesday to approve an extension of our $10,000 sign-on bonus offer to new recruits. The bonus offer gives Little Rock an advantage over surrounding police agencies as we continue to recruit high-quality officers to help us advance our crime reduction strategy. This is in addition to a $5,000 incentive for new employees moving to Little Rock. New hires who complete training can expect their first year's salary at be $52,520. 

To learn more about joining LRPD, visit BeLRPD.org.

Also Tuesday, the Board of Directors will vote to adopt a $2,500 sign-on bonus for new employees of our 911 Emergency Communications Center. The 911 center is a critical component for public safety, and our call-takers and dispatchers are that important link between first responders and residents in times of most urgent need.

Under the leadership of 911 Director Juana Green, our Emergency Communications Department is working to upgrade call-response times and to add staff. This year, almost 93 percent of all 911 calls are answered within 20 seconds. That's a significant improvement over previous years. We continue to reduce the number of vacancies within the 911 center, and we will do so again in the fall with the start of another training class. 

While these additional incentives will help us attract additional, quality personnel, we still have work to do to reduce crime. As I have stated before, even one homicide is one too many. 

To keep up the positive momentum, we seek even better results. To achieve those, we must invest more in technology, equipment and other priorities. Our Results for The Rock sales tax plan includes funding for our Real-Time Crime Center, as well as new vehicles and apparatuses for the police and fire departments. 

Through the Real-Time Crime Center and our Eyes On The Rock initiative, we are enhancing public safety efforts even more through technology. Chief Helton has called the Real-Time Crime Center a "force multiplier" for LRPD, and additional support through the sales tax will be a game-changer for emergency response and public safety.

Little Rock, our streets are safer and neighborhoods are stronger because of the work we are doing together to reduce crime. With community support, we will see even better results.

With a new school year starting this month, we again emphasize the critical importance and long-term benefits of early childhood education. I had the privilege of visiting with UAMS Head Start/Early Head Start team members last week as they prepared to welcome students.

Head Start and other early education programs are leading indicators for later success. Thus, educational opportunity is a true engine for jobs growth and economic development. Studies show that Head Start students are more likely than those without early education to attend high school and college. Early childhood education is also shown to be instrumental in brain development and literacy. With our goal of every child reading at grade level by the end of third grade, we first must begin teaching literacy and reading skills during early childhood.

Education is a pillar of my administration, which is why we created the position of chief education officer and why we are proud to serve as the Early Childhood Local Lead in partnership with the state's Office of Early Childhood Education. As Local Lead, we are coordinating with educators, parents and the Little Rock School District to learn and implement the best strategies for early-childhood education. We are also providing technical assistance to 12 local childcare centers working to increase their quality ratings. 

Another benefit of Head Start programs and other early childhood education is how these programs give parents and guardians the flexibility and opportunity to pursue their careers. Our existing workforce owes a debt of gratitude to the teachers and staff who care for our youngest, allowing parents to go to work with the confidence their children are in good hands. So, as teachers and staff prepare our future workforce, they also support our current workforce. 

If you haven't already, please join me in showing appreciation to Head Start staff and other early childhood educators. We applaud their work and the transformational changes they make every day in the lives of our children.

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, August 20, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St.  The public entrance to City Hall faces Markham Street, and residents will be directed to the Board Room on the second floor. Overflow space is available in the City Hall Rotunda. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, click here. 
• On Wednesday, August 21, the Little Rock Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting at 4 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St.
• The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission meets on Thursday, August 22, at 4 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center. The City Beautiful Commission considers requests for variances from the landscape ordinance and also deals with beautification issues within Little Rock.
• Little Rock's Public Works Department will host an open-forum public meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, to discuss infrastructure improvements in Ward 2. Residents can learn more about plans to improve sidewalks within the ward, including on Valley Drive, and can also provide their feedback. The meeting is at Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Road.
• The Little Rock Animal Village celebrates the completion of its expansion project with a ribbon cutting and reception on Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m. at the Animal Village, 4500 Kramer St. The public is invited to attend.