Little Rock mayoral candidate Steve Landers has been endorsed by the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police
for the 2022 mayoral race.
In a post to its official Facebook page, the FOP stated:
“The duty of police officers is not only to protect, but to also serve the citizens of Little Rock. Officers take their sworn oath and missions very seriously. We have not seen a commitment to either from the current administration. This current administration has misled the citizens of Little Rock regarding critical issues that affect the safety of this city. The number of officers has declined during the tenure of this administration, while simultaneously the violent crime has risen by double digit percentages. The programs being touted as solutions to the ever increasing violent crime are programs that have existed all along and have not been utilized. Becoming concerned with violent crime, and crime in general, during an election year is too little, too late. Protecting and serving the citizens of Little Rock requires having enough officers to respond to calls for service. Protecting and serving requires leadership that sets high standards, ensures officers are properly equipped, supports their officers, and holds officers accountable, regardless of ideology. The current administration has portrayed that policing in Little Rock needs to be ‘fixed’ while at the same time stating they ‘appreciate’ them.”
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott declared a public health emergency in Little Rock on Feb. 1, following a spate of violent crime over the last weekend in January that left 10 people shot including a 1-year-old child. Since then, the city has scheduled weekly public safety updates and launched new programs approved by the Little Rock Board of Directors, offering contracts to 11 different agencies that had submitted proposals to help the City’s efforts to curb violent crime.
“We have to invest in the people of Little Rock. And most importantly, we have to invest in our youth and young adults. We want to ensure that we save a generation of young people,” said Scott. “We understand that this has to involve more than just law enforcement officers. It has to be a holistic approach. It has to be focusing on communities.”
The new programs include a day laborer program to provide productive economic opportunities to individuals most at risk for perpetuating criminal activity. It also includes conflict resolution programs, a martial arts after school programs, art based approach efforts, mentorship programs, mental health intervention, and hospital based intervention at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
“True leadership has to unwaveringly hold themselves to the same high standard that is set for its employees. Therefore, the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge #17) offers our endorsement to a man who has committed to transparency and accountability. A man who is committed to placing the safety of this city as his highest priority. A man who has a proven track record of building and running successful organizations. A man who now seeks to hold the office of Mayor to provide what he can give to the citizens of Little Rock. A man who loves this city with all his being. The Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police endorses Steve Landers for Mayor of Little Rock.”
“I want to thank the Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police for its endorsement,” said Landers in an official statement. “It is vital to have local law enforcement support me and our mission. I have spoken with many of Little Rock’s finest, and we all agree that things need to change. My goals for 2023 are to fill every vacant police position, increase department morale, increase community policing and deploy our resources most efficiently by utilizing data driven policing.
“As Little Rock mayor, I am going to propose funding to LRPD to fight the crime that has ravaged our city. I want every police vacancy filled. I will never hire private security detail to protect myself as our current mayor does. Tax monies need to support law enforcement and the security of its citizens and not the personal security of the mayor.”
Landers officially announced his run for mayor of Little Rock in September 2021. The city of Little Rock will hold a general election for mayor on November 8, 2022. A runoff election is scheduled for December 6, 2022. The filing deadline for the election is August 10, 2022.
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