Below are the links to each department within the Sheriff's Office and each of their statistics for 2021's first quarter.
Please see attached document below for information regarding the new grant and its positions for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.
Please see the attached document for the COVID-19 protocol for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center.
Our first year in office, 2019, was a year full of obstacles and challenges for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. Despite being grossly understaffed the majority of the year, the Sheriff's Office was still able to successfully implement numerous programs and operating procedures that proved to be instrumental in providing the type of services and protection to which we are all entitled.
The Sheriff's Office started 2020 fully staffed with a strategic vision to help ensure Johnson County remains a safe, pleasant and desirable place to live and work. Through proactive law enforcement and community partnerships, the men of women of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office believe our efforts and determination will result in providing sound foundational strategies for the Sheriff's Office, communities and the citizens we serve.
Our full year end statistics are available below.
I thank you for allowing me to serve you as Sheriff and encourage you to please call me if I can be of assistance.
May God bless you and your family,
Jimmy Stephens
Sheriff
2019 Yearly Statistics
Patrol
CID
911/Dispatch
Court Transport
Detention Center
Auxiliary
Admin
CID
In November, the Sheriff's Office hired Special Victims Investigator, Jennifer McLemore. This is a two-year grant-funded position. Investigator McLemore has 3 1/2 years of experience in law enforcement and comes to us from Logan County Sheriff's office. The Special Victims investigator works with Patrol Officers, Detectives, Victim Service Advocates, Prosecutors and other personnel to provide a coordinated response to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in order to meet the victim's needs and to more effectively hold offenders accountable.
Patrol
In November, Deputy Brent Scott attended a nationally recognized school titled "Desert Snow". It was hosted by the Oklahoma City Police Department at their training academy. Class participants were from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. The class involved sections of instruction which allowed the students to do "hands on" searching of actual previously seized vehicles that have false compartments and voids. The class also helps officers/deputies/troopers to establish a network for sharing both information and manpower.
The class specializes in teaching how to intercept criminals during their transit along America's highway system. Although illegal drugs are a major issue, this class also teaches how to look for explosives, sex trafficking victims, stolen property, criminal proceeds (money), illegal weapons and counterfeit items.
The class involved sections of instruction which allowed the students to do "hands on" searching of actual previously seized vehicles that have false compartments and voids. The class also helps officers/deputies/troopers to establish a network for sharing both information and manpower.
In December, K-9 Batman joined the Sheriff's office team. Batman is a certified narcotics detector dog, trained by Little Rock K-9 Academy. Batman is trained in narcotics detection, obedience, tracking, area & building searches and criminal apprehension. Deputy CJ Riordan is Batman's handler, and together they completed a 90-hour handler's course. Deputy Riordan has over 80 hours of training in Criminal Interdiction. Together, Deputies Riordan & Batman will monitor the I-40 corridor that runs through Johnson County and work with the Narcotics Detective & Drug Task Force to crack down on the illegal drug activity in our area.
Detention Center
In November, the Detention Center & Sheriff's Office hosted the Johnson County Quorum Court. The staff made and served dinner to Quorum Court members and a few members of the general public. Dinner was served in the recently renovated conference room, which was previously the 309 inmate barracks. After dinner, 911 Director, Sierra Garcia showed off the new Dispatch Center. Then, our Detention Center Administrator, Sonja McCuen led the group on a tour of the jail facility. After the tour they met in the District Courtroom for the monthly quorum court meeting. It was an honor to host this group.
In December, Detention Deputy TJ Evans was promoted to Sergeant.
Statistics
Patrol
CID
911/Dispatch
Court Transport
Detention Center
Auxiliary
Admin
Summer flew by and fall is upon us and with fall comes our 3rd quarter reports. We have been busy this summer, here's a short recap and our stats are posted below.
DETENTION CENTER
Although Sonja McCuen took the reigns of the detention center as Administrator in June (2nd quarter), many of the changes that were started prior to her arriving, were completed under her supervision. It has been a heavy task but she has taken on the job with gusto and is doing a great job. We are proud to have her in this position.
Administrator McCuen and most of the jailers have graduated from Jail Standards School, a 40-hour course, and they have all obtained CPR certification. Many of the jailers have received an OC Pepper Spray Certification. This non-lethal weapon assists deputies and jailers in bringing disorderly subjects into compliance. In order to receive this certification, the trainee must be sprayed with the pepper spray so they know exactly what an individual will experience and the use of pepper spray is not taken lightly.
Detention Officers Nick McKittrick and Abbie Yarbrough were promoted to Sergeant. They, along with Detention Officer Shelby Reed attended a Prison Rape Elimination Act training, which will enable them to be aware of and respond to any inappropriate sexual acts or allegations in the jail.
Sheriff Stephens and the administrative staff of the jail toured a favorably recognized detention center in South Arkansas and implemented some of their procedures in our facility, including a classification system supported by the courts. The classification system will enable minimum security inmates to receive additional services.
911 - DISPATCH
This last quarter there have been many exciting things happening in dispatch.
In July, we upgraded our 911 system to VIPER by Intrado. The Viper suite provides the foundation for i3-compliant Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1). Additionally, Viper features empower agents with purpose-built tools designed to streamline 911 call handling operations.
July 22, 2019, we passed our Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) Audit with flying colors. The purpose of the audit it to help departments identify problems and improve their record systems, not to impose criticism or penalties. The field agent who conducted the audit found accurate and complete records in all files and that we are adhering to all ACIC policies and procedures.
We have installed new door keypad locks and cameras for added security. We have implemented the use of RapidSOS Clearinghouse which is a Location Information Server (LIS) for faster, more accurate device location for smartphones. We are using this in addition to the 911 map to get a caller's location.
At the end of September, Sierra Garcia was appointed by the Quorum Court as the new 911 Director.
PATROL - CID
In the last quarter, we hired four patrol deputies to fill vacant positions. That left us with two vacancies. One of the individuals that we hired left our employment; so, this absence left us with three open patrol deputy positions at the end of the quarter, which we are still actively recruiting for at this time.
We have also been actively recruiting for a Criminal Investigator position and we received grant funding for a Special Victims Investigator position. Both of those positions are still open and we are actively recruiting and accepting applications for these as well.
One of the most exciting events to happen during this last quarter was the graduation of Deputy Nancy Patton from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy. This was a 13-week intensive training that now designates Deputy Patton as a Certified Law Enforcement Officer in the State of Arkansas. Cadets train 10 hours a day and cover topics such as (but not limited to) Ethics, Law, Patrol Procedures, Traffic Enforcement, Investigations, Firearms, and Physical Fitness. Twenty-four cadets began their certification and twenty-two graduated, so it's not for everyone. We are very proud of Deputy Patton!
Sheriff Stephens & Deputy Patton
Click links below for department stats
911 - Dispatch
Admin
Auxiliary
Detention Center
CID
Court - Transport
Narcotics
Patrol
NCIC Inmate Communications has installed a new phone system and in-cell commissary ordering program for inmates to use. A kiosk has been installed in the detention center lobby so that money may be placed on an inmate’s commissary account 24-hours a day/7-days a week. The target date for the kiosk to be operational is August 1, 2019.
The conference room, detention center supervisor’s office and 309 barracks were remodeled. As a result, the training room was expanded and new office space for the Jail Administrator and 911 Director were created; 309 inmates moved back into the jail; and the dispatch center was moved into the new facility. This also created more space in the jail as the book-in desk was dismantled and the corrections officers were moved into the secure book-in pod. The new dispatch center is running smoothly and we now feel we can more adequately serve the public with less distractions.
The transition to the new reporting/jail management system was finalized. We are still working out some bugs in the system and getting all our employees trained on these programs. One of the biggest changes noticeable to the public was with the jail roster. We understand that this is a valued resource for the community and we appreciate all your patience while we work out the issues that have been reported to us. We are working with the developers and have a plan in place to improve the quality of the roster. Please know we are working on it but it is not at the top of the priority list so it may take a little longer for it to be completed.
For second quarter statistics click on the links below.
After meeting with the Office of Emergency Mgm’t, Judge Houston has ordered the closure of the following roads due to flooding. This is as of 9:00am, May 28, 2019.
South end of County Road (CR) 2361 CR 2140 CR 2181, South of CR 2140 Private Road 2052 CR 2120 CR 2110 CR 2091 CR 2051, South of Railroad tracks CR 2010 River Road from Big Danger to East of Top of hill CR 2550, between Hwy 64 & CR 2549 Private Road 1715Do not move or go around barriers. If there are no barriers in place, keep in mind that flood waters can quickly erode the driving surface below the water. Do not drive through flooded roadways. You not only put yourself at risk, but those who try to rescue you.
First Quarter Updates
The Sheriff’s office and Detention Center have been very busy since Sheriff Stephens took office on January 1, 2019. Having just finished our first quarter, we wanted to share some of the changes and statistics with you and be as transparent as possible.
But first we would like to apologize for the inmate roster being down on our website. We understand from the many calls, texts, and emails we received that this is a widely used resource. We are in the middle of a program transition, which you will read more about below. But we are working with our IT personnel and our website provider to get the roster back online as soon as possible.
We truly appreciate all your support and patience during all of our transitions. We look forward to providing quality services and protection to all of the citizens of Johnson County
Sheriff’s Office Updates:
Our patrol division began working 12-hour shifts which gives us the ability to have 3 deputies on shift at all times. This allows for us to have more patrol units on the roads, get reports completed on time, and keep our comp time down. Patrol deputies began using the eCrash accident system. This electronic reporting program immediately sends the report to the Arkansas State Police. This also makes reports easily available to those involved in an accident to access their report online at their own convenience. The Auxiliary Deputies began supervising the 309 Inmates (Trustees) while they are helping communities clean up their cemeteries in the County. Working collaboratively with the Prosecutor’s Office, we have revamped our prosecution reports to decrease redundant work for both Deputies and PA office employees. Uniforms have not been changed in the Sheriff’s office for over a decade. New uniforms were ordered in March and should arrive within the next couple weeks. Statistical reporting in all departments has changed somewhat and is being reported monthly at Quorum Court and will be reported quarterly to the public. We reorganized the Troop Room for the Deputies. This created more space and created a better workflow area. As mentioned in the introduction, we are in the process of transitioning from one Data Management System to another. This affects all of our incident reporting, criminal investigations and jail inmate management systems. It is a large undertaking but we have all the experts working together to ensure a smooth transition. As of Feb 1, we also formed a Narcotics/Criminal Apprehension Task Force. This interdiction team consists of two deputies from the Patrol Division, along with a certified narcotics detection K-9. This team is charged with concentrating their efforts on identifying and apprehending those involved in narcotic and criminal activity in our community.
Detention Center Updates:
Corrections officers (CO) began working 12-hour shifts to increase jail staff coverage and to decrease comp time. Three COs were promoted to Sergeant to better manage the supervisory workload. The inmate menu was changed to decrease budget costs while maintaining healthy meal plans. The Guardian RFID system was implemented to track inmate movements and medication administration within the jail. Jail Ministry, Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery and GED classes continue. Along with the Sheriff’s Administrative Office and Patrol, the jail is in the process of changing over to the new Inmate Management System from Relativity Public Safety Solution (RPS).
911/Dispatch Updates:
The Dispatch center was modified and reorganized to better increase workflow. Dispatchers began using the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software program which has improved efficiency and speed of data entry, providing more information to dispatchers during routine and emergency calls.
Information Technology Updates:
We reviewed all current systems and services to decrease budget expenses. Upgraded to a new secure email system that allows officers to receive data more efficiently in the field. Upgraded PC and laptops to increase speed and efficiency. Moved to a new gigabit fiber Internet connection through Clarksville Light & Water. Secured our network to meet FBI requirements. We are the second in the State to pass the Criminal Justice Information Systems audit in 2019. Only 12 of 120 passed in 2018.
Please find attached our quarterly statistics for five different divisions under the Sheriff’s Office purview: Patrol, 911/Dispatch, Court/Transport, Criminal Investigation, Jail/Detention Center. We want to be as open and transparent as possible.
It will be our daily goal to provide quality support and protection, to which all the citizens of Johnson County are entitled.
Once again, we sincerely appreciate your support, confidence and patience during our transitions. If you have comments, concerns or questions please do not hesitate to contact our office, we are here to serve you.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Jimmy Stephens
Criminal Investigation Division Stats