30-05-2025
Residents demand return of community policing at southwest Little Rock town hall
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Tensions and hope filled the Southwest Community Center Tuesday night as residents of southwest Little Rock gathered for a town hall meeting demanding a safer neighborhood — and a louder voice.
Hosted by Arkansas Community Organizations, the forum brought together dozens of neighbors, community advocates, and local officials.
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Their message was clear: 'We are tired of feeling unsafe — and unheard,' the Arkansas Community Organizations President said.
The call to action focused on reinstating community policing — officers on foot or bike patrol who know the people they serve rather than just responding to emergencies from a distance.
'We need it,' said Valencia White, a member of Arkansas Community Organizations. 'If they want us to trust them, they got to show up.'
Many residents shared similar frustrations, reporting repeated incidents of gunfire, speeding cars, and suspected drug houses.
Yet, they say their concerns they say are often brushed off or delayed by law enforcement, who categorize these calls as 'non-emergencies.'
'They take hours — sometimes until the next day — to respond,' one attendee said.
Despite those concerns, police data paints a different picture.
According to Mark Edwards, spokesperson for the Little Rock Police Department, 'Of our three divisions — Northwest, 12th Street, and Southwest — Southwest has, from a crime percentage standpoint, the best of the three.'
They emphasized that community policing isn't just about deterring crime — it's about building relationships and trust between officers and the people they serve.
The model once existed in Little Rock, and now, residents want it back.
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They are calling on city leaders — including the mayor, police chief, and city directors — to recommit to walking the streets with the people, not apart from them.
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