Pocahontas has a new police chief – and the mayor doesn’t want to talk about it

POCAHONTAS, Ark. – Mere days after the forced resignation of former police chief Cecil Tackett, a new police chief has been appointed in Pocahontas.

Attached to the mayor’s statement is the bold assertion that “This is the final statement. No interviews will be given.”

I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Edington has accepted the position of Chief of Police for the City of Pocahontas

Chief Edington came highly recommended to me by numerous people in order to fill the position of Chief of Police and upon review of Chief Edington’s resume and credentials I can certainly understand why.

Chief Edington holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to accepting this position, Chief Edington was employed as a Criminal Investigator for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and has as such investigated and assisted in the prosecution of dozens of felony offenses.  Chief Edington was also formally employed as a law enforcement agent for the Arkansas Tobacco Control Division which spanned four Arkansas counties. Inline with his work at the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, as the Supervising Drug Task Force Agent, Chief Edington’s efforts help [sic] lead to the arrest and conviction of many illicit drug dealers

I believe that Chief Edington will greatly complement our two fine and very experienced investigators in the names of Lieutenant Jessee Luffman and Sgt. Rocky Jones along with some good patrol personnel.

I welcome Chief Edington to the employment of the City of Pocahontas. I am excited to be able to fill the position with someone with the experience, integrity, and leadership skills that Chief Edington brings to the position and look forward to working with him.

Keith Sutton
Mayor City of Pocahontas

Law enforcement sources told NEA Report that Edington was moving into his offices over the weekend. On Sunday, we asked Sutton if this was true via text to his personal cell.

“Stan, this is my personal phone,” Sutton began, seemingly annoyed at our effort to contact him on the weekend. “No hire has been made at this time. I will be glad to let you know when we do hire someone from the office phone.”

We asked Sutton if he felt he should advertise the position before making a new hire. He did not reply to this question.

The number Sutton provided was a landline to city hall. Sutton said he would return our calls last week when we contacted him at this number and never did.

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Last week’s fight over chief

In a specially called city council meeting late last week, Mayor Sutton clashed with members of the city council during an executive session discussion, a government source leaked.

NEA Report provides anonymity after vetting credibility in order to provide the most clear picture to our readers of what is happening in their local municipalities.

The meeting itself was called to address the affects of the government shutdown, which threatened the funding of the local hospital. However, council members and the mayor entered into an executive session to discuss the departure of Tackett.

Two separate sources say that the council expressed their displeasure over the forced ousting of Tackett.

Sutton responded by shouting he would do “anything” he wants, one source said.