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- [00:02]
A
Hello and welcome to arnet, the show that shines a light on the trailblazers, game changers and hardworking heroes driving Arkansas forward. From bold entrepreneurs to community champions, we bring the stories that inspire and ignite progress. Now here's your host, David Bratton.
- [00:28]
B
Welcome. Welcome, everybody, to this episode of the arnet Podcast on the Ballot series. Today I'm sitting here with Brian Mitchell Senior. Mr. Mitchell is a candidate for Lanok County Sheriff. Mr. Mitchell, how are you?
- [00:45]
C
Not too bad. Pretty good day today.
- [00:49]
B
Oh, that's great. Great. I appreciate you coming here to the Mallard Island Lawn Service Studios and sitting with me today. Let's get to know you a little bit. What's your. What's your history? Your biography? Just a brief, brief rundown.
- [01:04]
C
Well, I'm 40 years old. I was born and raised here in Arkansas. Grew up in High Springs. I lived in Little Rock for a little while. Lived in Benton several years. I ended up enlisting in the army when I was 20.
- [01:23]
B
Okay.
- [01:24]
C
21. Yeah. Yes, 21. Did a couple years in the army, stationed at Fort Campbell. Deployed to Iraq once in 08.
- [01:36]
B
Okay.
- [01:37]
C
Got back, got out the army, kind of moved around a little bit and found myself back home.
- [01:45]
B
Yes, sir.
- [01:47]
C
Family's real important by then. I had three kids and one on the way.
- [01:52]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
So I tried to focus on taking care of my family, taking care of my kids, and going to school.
- [02:02]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [02:03]
C
Yes, sir. I ended up earning my bachelor's in criminal justice.
- [02:08]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
From Austin Peay State University.
- [02:11]
B
Okay.
- [02:13]
C
After I graduated there, I went to work at Riverband Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee.
- [02:20]
B
Okay. Riverbend, okay.
- [02:21]
C
Yes, sir.
- [02:22]
B
That was maximum security?
- [02:23]
C
Yes, sir.
- [02:24]
B
Okay. So that's pretty.
- [02:28]
C
It was an experience. I bet you what, I spent my first six months working on death row.
- [02:34]
B
Really?
- [02:35]
C
Yeah. Met some real interesting people there, trained some good officers, worked with some good officers.
- [02:41]
B
Yes, sir.
- [02:43]
C
I miss the camaraderie, all right. And, like, the culture that they built. And it was a really good experience.
- [02:54]
B
She had a good company culture there. And that maximum. Maximum security facility.
- [02:59]
C
Yes, sir.
- [03:00]
B
Okay.
- [03:01]
C
We always had each other's back. We made sure that everybody came home at the end of the day. And, like, that was important for us. But I also learned that you treat people with respect, you work hard, and when people see that you're doing your job like you're supposed to, they respect you more for it.
- [03:25]
B
Yes, sir.
- [03:27]
C
You earn people's trust like that, and integrity is real big. They used to teach firm, fair and consistent up there. You have to be Firm. You have to be fair with the inmates, and you have to be the same person every day. And like, that's why I use that as part of my campaign slogan. Firm, fair, consistent, and transparent.
- [03:48]
B
Right now, I'm going to guess use that maximum security prison, because those guys have nothing to lose, really.
- [03:54]
C
Right.
- [03:55]
B
I mean, they're locked up probably for a long time.
- [03:57]
C
Yeah. A lot of them.
- [03:59]
B
And to survive in there, I mean, you've got to show respect. I mean, you can't be weak, but you got to show respect, you know?
- [04:05]
C
Right.
- [04:06]
B
So I get it. That's awesome.
- [04:10]
C
After that left prison, we came back to Arkansas, my wife and I. In 2017, I went to work at the Bridgeway.
- [04:22]
B
Yes, sir.
- [04:23]
C
Doing mental health technician.
- [04:25]
B
Okay.
- [04:26]
C
So I got to learn firsthand what. What it is to deal with solely mental health patients.
- [04:37]
B
Yes, sir.
- [04:38]
C
And the importance that the mental health field plays in society. That was a big thing.
- [04:44]
B
Okay. What motivated you to run for Lono County Sheriff, and why now?
- [04:50]
C
Well, I wanted to run for sheriff. I want to run for sheriff because I hear people calling for change. Everybody. Every time you turn around, they're saying, we need something different. We need a change. And I was always taught that if you want change, you have to actually do something about it. You can't just sit here and complain or say, yeah, I want to change, but wait for somebody else to make the change.
- [05:21]
B
Yeah, you have to be the change.
- [05:22]
C
So I figured I would come in and throw my name in the hat.
- [05:27]
B
Yes.
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C
And bring my perspective to the department if I could win.
- [05:31]
B
I like it. You say protecting children comes first. What specific changes would you bring to protect children and hold child predators and violent offenders accountable?
- [05:44]
C
So one thing I would do now, as a law enforcement officer, there's only so much that you can do. A lot of stuff like, we're only a part of the system. We're not the whole system. But one thing that I would do is hold classes teaching parents and children about dangers that are out there. Like, I know you hear people talk about stranger danger, but that's not the only thing out there. I know firsthand that a lot of times it's people close to the family or close to the victim.
- [06:28]
B
Right.
- [06:29]
C
Ends up being the one to abuse them. So we would teach parents the warning signs, red flags, different things that they could look for to be more aware, as well as teaching children how to
- [06:52]
B
just give them awareness.
- [06:53]
C
Attention.
- [06:54]
B
Dangers online especially. Yeah. That the Internet is a good tool. However, it has a lot of downfalls to it. Yes. Yeah. I was Reading your bio online, you'd mentioned transparency is a transition. Transparency is a big part of your platform. What information will the public see regular, regularly from you and they're not seeing now?
- [07:20]
C
Well, I would publish quarterly reports on how we spend the money. I know you can get budgets, the sheriff's department's budget, but we would post quarterly reports on how to. How we spend taxpayer dollars.
- [07:36]
B
Yes.
- [07:37]
C
Specifically what they're going to and results. Like what programs are working, what programs aren't. You would be able to find that easily and not have to spend hours searching or put in a FOIA request.
- [07:58]
B
Okay.
- [07:59]
C
I'd make it readily available for people.
- [08:01]
B
Okay, I like it. Tell us about the Junior Cadet program. How does that work?
- [08:09]
C
So Junior Cadet program would be something where we have a couple of volunteers, officers, where they help children between the ages of 12 and 17. Yes, sir. Give them something to do after school. You know, a lot of times, kids with nothing to do tend to get in trouble.
- [08:33]
B
Right.
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C
So one way to help curb crime, and I know Cabot has a Junior Cadet program or something similar.
- [08:41]
B
Okay.
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C
But to give them access to a positive mentor, teach them different things, teach them drug awareness, different things like that, to keep them out of trouble, off of drugs and out the streets. I believe that would be a very good way to curb crime because sometimes juveniles turn into adult offenders. And if we can stop that from happening early, then we can help reduce crime later on in life.
- [09:20]
B
Oh, I agree. Yes. Yeah. Because the kids, our children are biggest asset.
- [09:25]
C
Yes, sir.
- [09:26]
B
Absolutely. You know, you said you worked in, what was it, Bridgeway?
- [09:32]
C
Yes, sir.
- [09:32]
B
Okay. And that's a mental health facility, correct?
- [09:35]
C
Yes, sir. It's a mental health hospital in North Little Rock.
- [09:38]
B
Yes, sir. What practical steps would you take to expand crisis intervention and mental health with the sheriff's department and the jail?
- [09:49]
C
Well, I would find volunteer therapists. My wife's a therapist. She has a network. And I would reach out to people from my previous past and her connections and find volunteer therapists to come in once or twice a week, provide free services to inmates and officers because it's important to give the inmates the services for rehabilitation and trying to help them get back on the straight narrow. But our deputies, our officers, they. They can see some pretty horrific stuff, and they need access to those services in order to
- [10:30]
B
deal with. Deal with it. Right. So there's a. You know, for a long time, it was a stigma that, you know, if you're law enforcement, you just dealt with it yourself.
- [10:42]
C
Right.
- [10:42]
B
You know, and I think over time, that's proved not to be the best choice.
- [10:46]
C
Right. That's why, I mean, if we could do that and like, help bring down officer suicides, you know.
- [10:56]
B
Sure.
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C
That's a real big thing.
- [11:00]
B
Domestic violence, too.
- [11:01]
C
Yes, absolutely. I've talked to a few people who talk about domestic violence here with officers
- [11:08]
B
and
- [11:11]
C
like, that's something that we need to address.
- [11:14]
B
Yes, sir.
- [11:14]
C
So mental health services for officers and deputies, I'd also like to see. When I was working at Riverbend, I'd sit on groups and stuff and we'd have volunteer chaplains come in, sit with the inmates and talk about life skills and how to help make changes. And those small things, over a course of time, those small, small things can help build a big change.
- [11:42]
B
Absolutely. Yes, sir. Okay. You know, staffing right now is a major issue for a lot of departments. You know, with the way the world is and social media and just everything's out of whack, it seems like. How do you plan to recruit and retain deputies?
- [12:04]
C
Well, I would start a campaign for trying to show that we're creating a culture that embraces our officers, embraces our deputies. I would try to make the department somewhere that people want to work. I know the budget. Lonoke county doesn't make as much as some of these other departments around here.
- [12:34]
B
Absolutely.
- [12:35]
C
But I did notice that the budget for salaries has steadily increased over the last few years.
- [12:40]
B
Okay.
- [12:41]
C
So that would be something that I could use in order to try to recruit and retain officers.
- [12:47]
B
Yes, sir.
- [12:49]
C
Coming from a corrections background, I know how staffing shortages inside a facility can make things more dangerous for everybody, not just the inmates, but the officers too. Cause if you don't have enough people to do everything, then somebody's not getting a shower or somebody's not getting like child might get late. And you have to deal with that because they get mad.
- [13:16]
B
Sure.
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C
And you got to make sure that you have enough people on staff to handle that situation and to give the inmates what they need in a timely manner, as well as enough people to protect each other.
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B
Yes, sir.
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C
Because it can get dangerous in there.
- [13:36]
B
Oh, right. Yeah. You know, people are locked up in there. They. They feel like they don't have any other options. Sometimes you talk, you spoke about restoring integrity and open door leadership. What does that look like under your. If you're the sheriff on the day to day for deputies and for citizens.
- [14:00]
C
So people would be able to come into the office. Deputies, citizens. Like I would literally have an open door policy you need to reach. Even now my phone number is on my Facebook Page. If you want to reach me, I'll be reachable, and that won't change if I'm elected. I will make myself available to anyone who needs my ear, and we'll work out whatever problem that they have. And I know sometimes it might be minuscule stuff. It might seem like I might put something on the back burner if something more important pops up, but that doesn't mean that I just forgot about you. I want to make sure that people feel comfortable coming to me, and that'll help build that trust with the community. Right. And my deputies.
- [14:56]
B
Absolutely, yeah. You know, just being able to visit with people when they. When they feel like they need to talk to you.
- [15:04]
C
Yes, sir.
- [15:05]
B
That's huge.
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C
Like, I remember my unit manager and I was a correctional clerical officer. After seven months, I did a lateral transfer and became part of the unit management team.
- [15:18]
B
And.
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C
And my unit manager, unit manager Davis, he had an open door policy, and he made himself available not just to us, but to other staff. And if we needed to talk to him, we needed to address something like, he would get that done.
- [15:38]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
And that made for a better environment on the unit, and it made things run smoother. But because officers knew, oh, if I got this problem to deal with, I can go to unit manager Dave.
- [15:52]
B
There you go. Okay. Yeah. Laying out that company culture.
- [15:55]
C
Yes, sir.
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B
That's good. When it comes to reviewing and enforcing policies, how would you ensure the rules are applied consistently, regardless of rank?
- [16:11]
C
Well, one thing that I learned working at the prison is if you follow policy, then you're covered.
- [16:18]
B
Yes, sir.
- [16:20]
C
So one thing I would do is put out a memo, hold a meeting, and we would go over policies. I would review the policies, put out the memo, hold the meeting. So everybody knows what the policies are and what the expectation is. When I was doing insurance, we had this thing that said, inspect what you expect. So you have to check periodically to make sure that your expectations are being met.
- [16:57]
B
Okay.
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C
You have to follow up with people. It's like. And not saying that officers are kids or people are kids, but it's just like with your kids, you tell them to go clean up the room and then gone about your business and never go check. How do you know they cleaned up the room?
- [17:16]
B
Right.
- [17:17]
C
So you set that expectation, you give them the grounds, and the knowledge of what that expectation is, and then you follow up on it. And if policy is violated, you deal with that disciplinary action in the appropriate way.
- [17:36]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
If it keeps getting violated, then you know you have a problem, and we have to address that. Then yes, sir.
- [17:45]
B
Okay. Yeah. You mentioned in your bio about safer roads and neighborhoods, and that matters to everyone. How would you balance increased traffic enforcement with maintaining positive relationships with the public?
- [18:04]
C
So I remember growing up in High Springs, and I know it is different in the sheriff's department. It's a lot of ground to cover, and foot patrols are pretty much impossible. But I remember growing up in High Springs that we had officers come walking through the neighborhood, and, like, even in their patrol cars, they come stop, see the kids out playing, and all the kids will run up to the police car and talk to them.
- [18:36]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
We knew the officers names. The officers knew who we were.
- [18:39]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
Like, we should have that. We should be able to have that. Like, people should know who our deputies are. They should know that they can trust them. But at the same time, I know I see people speeding all over the place, like, through school zones and stuff. When I go pick my daughter up, there's people speeding through there. And, like, so you have to enforce the traffic laws, but not minusculely.
- [19:12]
B
Right.
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C
You can't nitpick. If somebody going two miles over the speed limit, you know, that's one thing, but if somebody's going through a school zone when school's letting out doing 20 miles over the speed limit, that's a problem.
- [19:25]
B
Absolutely.
- [19:27]
C
And then road rage is a. Like, you see a lot of road rage incidents. Maybe not so much here in the county, but all over social media. I just watched a video yesterday of a traffic accident that turned deadly because somebody got mad and wanted to shoot the person that hit him.
- [19:46]
B
Like, yeah. I don't get. I stay pretty much up here on the north end of the county, but, yeah. Some people's driving skills serve.
- [19:56]
C
Yes.
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B
Need to be tended to.
- [19:58]
C
Yes. And, like, it just needs to be more available. And part of that goes into recruiting more deputies. If we have more deputies to cover more ground, you know, that can help keep the road safer. You might go 15, 20 miles without seeing any kind of law enforcement.
- [20:24]
B
Right.
- [20:25]
C
So people be like, oh, ain't no police through here. I can speed through here. And, no, you can't.
- [20:33]
B
I agree. You want to expand the PAC program. Why do you believe addiction treatment is a public safety issue? And what results would you want to see from expanding the PAC program?
- [20:49]
C
So addiction treatment is something that I feel passionate about.
- [20:55]
B
Yes, sir.
- [20:57]
C
Like, I know people that suffer from addiction have suffered from addiction for a long time. And, you know, the effect that it has on their families, on the people around them. Like, it doesn't just affect that one person, it affects multiple people.
- [21:15]
B
So being able to the entire family.
- [21:17]
C
Yes, sir. And addiction leads to increased property crime. People go commit crimes to fuel their habits.
- [21:26]
B
Right.
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C
You know, so if we can address addiction and get it under control. I know the PAC program does some pretty good things and gives people a second chance. So if we could review the criteria, maybe expand it. I know the funding like that was
- [21:46]
B
gonna be my next part of the question is, what happens if this grant runs out that pays for that program?
- [21:51]
C
Well, my go to is volunteers. Now, I know will need the money to keep the program running, but I've seen a lot of people respond to, they want to keep the PAC program. They, like, they'd be willing to volunteer, they'd be willing to help do stuff to keep the program going. So we would look for funding elsewhere if the funding expires. And we would find other ways to fund that program as well as try to increase it, open it up to more people.
- [22:31]
B
Okay.
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C
Because rehabilitation is a real big thing. You know, a lot of times in corrections, it's more about retribution. You know, you did this crime, you gotta go do your time. But at some point, like, there's a low amount of people that stay locked up forever.
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B
Yes, sir.
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C
I mean, you got a lot of them. But considering the amount of arrest yearly, like, a lot of these offenders will be back on the streets at some point. So they need skills, they need to address the issues that got them incarcerated in the first place. And if we're able to teach them that, we're able to, like, teach them life skills, we're able to teach them coping skills, we're able to get them therapy, you know, because a lot of times offenses come from trauma.
- [23:31]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
And if we can address those situations before they get back on the streets and not have it stop there, but keep it going, groups, counselors, things like that, then we can reduce that recidivism. Right. And stop people from reoffending.
- [23:50]
B
Okay.
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C
It might not work for everybody, but if we can put a 20, 30% decrease and people reoffending, then that's. I'd consider that a win.
- [24:01]
B
Absolutely. I. I would consider it a win too. You know, community policing is often talked about. As a matter of fact, we talked about just a little bit a second ago. How would you make sure your deputies are truly engaged with their communities they serve and not just responding to calls like, well, what for the deputies? How would you encourage them to be out there getting to know the citizens?
- [24:29]
C
You know, it makes your job easier when, you know, when you know the people you're dealing with.
- [24:37]
B
Yes, sir.
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C
Like when you have a relationship, or at least a rapport, maybe not necessarily a relationship, but you have that rapport with people.
- [24:48]
B
Right.
- [24:48]
C
And so just like I said a while ago, if they're out patrolling, don't have a call for service. You see a group of kids playing basketball, stop and say, hey.
- [25:03]
B
Right.
- [25:03]
C
Like, you don't have to just ride by and they be like, oh, it's the police. No, we're here to make our presence felt. But we also want you to know that we're here for you. Like, we're not here as a threat. We're not just here when something bad happens. We're here for good things, too.
- [25:26]
B
Yes.
- [25:27]
C
Another thing would be meetings, like, come together maybe once a month or. And let the citizens actually talk to the deputies, you know, Right. Answer questions, address concerns that they have, let them get to know each other, maybe a few ride along so they can actually see what deputies have to go through on a daily basis.
- [25:59]
B
Oh, yeah, yeah. I think ride alongs, you know, need to happen for the public just to see exactly what you said, see what the job entails.
- [26:08]
C
Yeah.
- [26:08]
B
You know, that's huge. Absolutely. If you are elected sheriff, what would success look like to you at the end of your first term?
- [26:21]
C
So for me, I'd like to see property crimes go down.
- [26:25]
B
Yes, sir.
- [26:26]
C
I would like to see a lower recidivism rate, more officers, and like a culture. I don't want people now saying, oh, well, the sheriff's department don't do this. The sheriff's department don't do that. I want them to be like, I'm proud of our sheriff's department and we know we can count on them. Like, you won't make everybody happy.
- [26:57]
B
Oh, no.
- [26:59]
C
Nobody's ever always. You'll never make everybody happy. But if we're able to restore the trust and hold everybody accountable, citizens and deputies alike, then they know, like, I'd want to be held accountable. Like, if you see me doing something wrong, please tell me. Cause, like, that's something that I strive to press on. Like, if you want to create that culture, you want to create that environment, you have to start at the top. You got to leave from the front. And so success for me, that would look. That would. That would be reducing crime and restoring the trust.
- [27:59]
B
Yes.
- [27:59]
C
Sheriff's department.
- [28:00]
B
Okay, we're getting close. This pretty much getting close to the end. Is there anything you'd like to tell the citizens? Lonoke County? Is there anything that you didn't get out that you'd like to make sure they know about you.
- [28:16]
C
I am somebody who loves my family. I love my community. I believe that you treat people with respect, you treat people right, and you earn people's respect.
- [28:31]
B
Yes, sir.
- [28:34]
C
I believe that there are things in life that may put you in a situation, but that doesn't have to define who you are. You know, just because you make a mistake when you. When you're younger doesn't mean 20, 30 years later like you're still paying for that same mistake. Right. You know, it doesn't have to define who you are. And I want people to be able to know that. The sheriff's department is here for you.
- [29:10]
B
Yes, sir.
- [29:10]
C
We're gonna do our jobs. We're gonna make the street safer. But it's not a law enforcement officer's job to judge. It's their job to enforce the law.
- [29:24]
B
Right.
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C
And that's the culture I want to create.
- [29:28]
B
Yes, sir, I. I agree. That sounds good. How can people connect with you online? What is yours? Social media pages.
- [29:37]
C
So my business page is Brian Mitchell Senior for Lonoke County Sheriff.
- [29:42]
B
Yes, sir.
- [29:44]
C
You can reach me there. Message. I have my personal phone number on there as well if people want to reach out.
- [29:52]
B
And then now the Brian Mitchell Senior for Longer County Sheriff. That's Facebook, correct?
- [29:57]
C
Yes, sir, that's on Facebook.
- [29:58]
B
Okay.
- [29:59]
C
And then what was my phone?
- [30:03]
B
Oh, I have a tick tock phone numbers on there. Oh, you have a tick tock.
- [30:07]
C
I have a tick tock, but I don't really know how to use that yet.
- [30:11]
B
Right before our younger listeners.
- [30:13]
C
Yeah, I'm. I'm kind of older, so.
- [30:17]
B
Oh, I get it. I get it.
- [30:19]
C
That's not really my thing.
- [30:20]
B
You're right. Right now I understand you're not on there doing any dances, are you?
- [30:24]
C
No, sir. I am not a dancer. It's okay if you are.
- [30:29]
B
When I think of tick tock, that's what I think about people doing silly things. Yeah, absolutely.
- [30:35]
C
But feel free to reach out and I make myself available anytime.
- [30:40]
B
Yes, Sir. Okay. Well, Mr. Mitchell, I sure appreciate you coming and sitting on the show with me today.
- [30:46]
C
Oh, thank you for having me.
- [30:47]
B
Absolutely. You know, people listening. Look up Brian Mitchell senior for Loanoke County Sheriff on Facebook and connect with Mr. Mitchell. And you won't be in the primaries, Right? You're unopposed for the primaries, but you'll be in November election, correct?
- [31:06]
C
Correct.
- [31:07]
B
All right, well, it gets closer to the November election. Let's have another show, if you don't mind.
- [31:11]
C
Oh, no problem.
- [31:13]
B
All right. Sir. I appreciate you coming on the show.
- [31:15]
C
Oh, no problem. Problem. Thank you for having me.
- [31:17]
B
Yes, sir. All right, we are wrapping this up here at the Mallard Island Lawn Service Studios. And Mr. Producer, we are sending this back to you, sir.
- [31:28]
A
That's a wrap for this episode of the ARNET podcast. We're grateful to have you as a part of our community. If you enjoyed today's show, share it with a friend or leave us a review. It really helps us keep telling these important stories. Stories. And don't forget to check out the podcast description for more on our guest and topics. Thanks again for listening and make sure to follow the show so you'll never miss an episode of the ARNET Podcast. This has been a Mallard island Media and Mr. Producer Production.