Mr. Alex Golden, (Times Record) May 10, 2017

I am extremely concerned about some of the new police chief’s movements, i.e. the talk of a paramilitary.

The T.R.’s initial response pertaining to Chief Clark’s reconstruction proposal of the city police department morphing into a paramilitary was/is chilling.

I emailed the Mayor, the City Manager, the City Directors & Police Chief on May 8 suggesting to them what the chief is proposing under the aegis of reorganizing the police force is actually converting the dept. to a light infantry unit, which at that point can be utilized by the military.

Numbers of questions immediately arise: who issued the Directive for the conversion of our city police force to a paramilitary unit and the introduction of heavy armaments follow. Why would any peaceful city, e.g. Fort Smith place this kind of force in the hands of a police chief while surrendering our oversight/freedoms. This proposed activity by the chief is patently unconstitutional and the present police force is being trained as a military asset.

Since the initial story broke the word paramilitary has been dropped from the conversation and again I ask, what is the real purpose of what the chief is promoting?

I would be pleased if you would log on to arkansasfreedom.net and read The City of Fort Smith, Arkansas seguing into the U.S. Police State…for what reason? The City Manager, the Mayor, the Board of Directors, & the Chief of Police received this email, as usual no response and what I believe as usually the case, citizens do not comprehend the magnitude of the chief’s call nor do I believe the members of the Board are aware of a national trend that increases the numbers & kinds of policing powers which are not in the best interest of the citizens.

Thanks,

Joe McCutchen
Fort Smith

P.S. Hopefully you will follow up with a more in-depth investigative report that will inform the citizens in a much more transparent way and the unconstitutional dangers that follow.