Map of original city curfew area

8-2008

ORDER DECLARING AN

EMERGENCY CURFEW IN A LIMITED AREA OF THE

CITY OF HELENA-WEST HELENA, ARKANSAS

1. Whereas, the City of Helena-West Helena, has the duty to provide protection to its citizens and visitors; and

2. Whereas, certain areas of our city has been under seige with repeated gunfire, loitering, drug dealing and other general mayhem; and

3. Whereas, the Police Department acting through Colonel Fred Fielder, Chief of Police, Major Ronald Scott, Assistant Chief of Police; Captain G. Paul Baldwin, Captain Carl Vann, Lieutenant Bennie Phillips, Detective Roy Covington, Detective Dennis Cox, Detective Brian Holloway, Detective Thomas Bivens, Officer Manager Evelyn Pool and Mayor James Valley met and developed a plan of action; and

4. Whereas, without these drastic measures, the citizens in the affected areas will continue to live under seige; and

5. Whereas, Detective Roy Covington has prepared a map outlining the affected area; and

6. Whereas, the next city council meeting is set for August 19, 2008;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDERED, DIRECTED AND DECREED in accordance with Section 7.12.01 of Code of Ordinances for the City of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a mandatory curfew is imposed and ordered for the next 48 hours and re-imposed after each expiration until the problem is resolved or the city council can meet and decide on the appropriate course of action.

The Police Department has been directed to treat the Curfew Zone as a zero tolerance zone. No loitering, standing or “hanging-out” will be permitted. All traffic on foot, bicycle, automobile, horseback, moped, motorcycle, riding mower or other mode of travel will be subject to stop and investigation.

The Street and Sanitation Department has been directed to clean all alleys in the area and remove all debris and low lying shrubbery that impedes the view of the police officers and general public.

The Mayor’s office has been directed to order additional lighting for the telegram poles in the dark places in the affected area including the alleys.

The affected area is as follows: Starting at the easternmost corner of the intersection of Fourth Street (aka Hwy 242) and Anderson Street and traveling west on Anderson street to the westernmost corner of the intersection of Anderson and South Sebastian Streets then traveling south on Sebastian street to the southernmost corner of the intersection of Sebastian Street and Garland Street and then east on Garland street to the easternmost corner of the intersection of Garland Street and Fourth Street and then traveling north to the point of the beginning at the intersection of Fourth Street and Anderson Street.

The affected streets include:

Center Street (Totally)

The 200 and 300 Blocks of:

North Sebastian Street

North 2^nd Street

North 3^rd Street

North 4^th Street

The 100, 200 and 300 Blocks of:

East Garland Street

East Baldwin Street

Anderson Street

A copy of the map is attached to this order and is available for viewing and inspection during normal business hours at 98 Plaza Street in the Mayor’s office, City Clerk’s Office or Chief of Police’s Office.

The Curfew shall be and hereby is in force and effect for 24 hours per day.

The Code Enforcement Department has been directed to pursue Nuisance Abatement (Evictions) for those persons residing in homes, in the affected areas, where at least three (3) criminal violations have occurred within the most recent time period allowed to be considered by law.

The Records subdivision of the police department has been directed to gather all necessary information for the Code Enforcers, City Attorney and Police Department to take swift, direct and most impacting action against the wrongdoers and offenders.

The police department will use both diplomacy with the “ring leaders” and saturation of the affected area to bring resolve to this matter. Diplomacy with the ring leaders will entail the issuance of a cease and desist order. Saturation will entail additional manpower, overtime, extra hours, long shifts and the issuance of tickets. Saturation also entails serving warrants and subpoenas.

The police department has been directed to give no warning other than this order itself.

IT IS SO ORDERED ON THIS 7^TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2008.