POLICE TO BE TESTED ON PHYSICAL FITNESS

'It's a Liability Issue,' Conway Chief Tells County Law Enforcement

Conway's police officers will soon be a buffer bunch, according to
Police Chief Randall Aragon.

Aragon told attendees of the regular gathering of the counties police
chiefs on Thursday that a new policy requiring police officers to take
physical-ability tests will go into effect Sept. 1.

"It's a liability issue," the chief said. In some agencies, "officers
who have not been able to help a citizen because of their physical
condition have been sued. And officers who have tried to help citizens
and got injured have sued the department, so it is a double-edged sword."

The test Conway officers will have to take will consist of push-ups,
sit-ups and a run. The officers will be able to use this year's and
next year's tests as sort of intermediate tests "but in 2004 they're
going to have to pass," Aragon said. "This will result in stronger,
more-fit officers E with a more professional image."

There is no law that requires a police department to provide on-duty
workout time, he added, even if the department has a physical-ability
requirement.

The city does have a contract with a Conway Nautilus that allows city
employees to use the facilities at no charge. The business has already
seen an increase in police officers working out, the chief said,
adding that "most of the officers are happy about the new policy."

Most of the other law enforcement officials at the meeting requested a
copy of the Police Department's policy.

In other news, Aragon also shared with the group that his department
received a call a couple of weeks ago about a federal methamphetamine
eradication grant.

"They basically said, 'do you want some money for meth reduction?' and
of course, we said 'yes,'" Aragon explained.

The department must have its paperwork mailed by Sept. 3 and is in the
process of getting things together. Conway has the potential of
getting $192,000 with no matching local funds required, Aragon said.

Also at the meeting, Faulkner County Sheriff Marty Montgomery updated
the chiefs on the overcrowding at the Detention Center. He said the
population has reached as high as 230 prisoners in the past couple of
weeks and that the doors remain closed but to a few select new inmates.

"There's a lot of behind-the-scenes talks about the jail E I know
they're looking at some property and they're working on it, but
realistically, I don't anticipate you seeing anything happen until
after the first of the year," the sheriff said.

The biggest problem at this point, he said, is if a new jail was built
it's possible the county would not have the money needed to operate it
right away, and "there's no federal funds available for jail
construction or even support."

In other news from the Sheriff's Office, Montgomery said the Criminal
Justice Management Group continues to meet and discuss issues "that
really have less to do with the construction of a new jail and more to
do with the whole criminal management system."

That group is scheduled to meet again on Sept. 27.

Montgomery also said his department is due to be on board with the new
National Incident Based Reporting System incident-reporting system any
day, "although it's going to take a while before we get the bugs
worked out. There's a lot to this stuff."

Aragon was impressed with the news, adding the Police Department is
hoping to be using the NIBRS system by the January deadline.

The state is requiring all police departments in the state to adopt
the NIBRS system in order to compile more-accurate statewide crime
data. The deadline for implementing the system in Jan. 1, 2003.

Capt. Glen Stacks of the University of Central Arkansas Police
Department said his department is NIBRS compliant and would be willing
to assist any department that needs help.

In a recurring topic of the monthly chiefs' meetings, Stacks said work
is progressing on getting a way for all the police agencies in the
county to be able to communicate via radio. A poll of the departments
is being conducted to determine what equipment will be needed and at
what cost. A grant proposal will then be drafted.

The poll information is supposed to be collected and ready for further
discussion at the group's September meeting.