Gilbert sworn in as Benton County sheriff

n He replaces the resigned Kelley Cradduck and will serve in the role until Dec. 31.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Robert Clinard (left), Benton County judge, administers the oath of office to Meyer Gilbert who will serve as sheriff for the remainder of Kelly Cradduck’s term. Cradduck resigned after being charged with felony tampering with a public record and misdemeanor tampering. He was arrested Jan. 19. Cradduck has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/J.T. WAMPLER Robert Clinard (left), Benton County judge, administers the oath of office to Meyer Gilbert who will serve as sheriff for the remainder of Kelly Cradduck’s term. Cradduck resigned after being charged with felony tampering with a public record and misdemeanor tampering. He was arrested Jan. 19. Cradduck has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

BENTONVILLE -- The Quorum Court unanimously approved appointing Meyer Gilbert of Siloam Springs to the post vacated by Kelley Cradduck, who agreed to resign as soon his replacement is sworn in. Gilbert will serve through Dec. 31, when Cradduck's term would have ended.

Gilbert thanked the justices of the peace for their support and said he had begun to acquaint himself with the Sheriff's Office.

Jail expansion

Benton County’s justices of the peace Thursday approved spending $2 million to add space to the County Jail. The project will provide additional space for misdemeanor offenders and secure holding cells for women prisoners. Construction is expected to take seven or eight months to complete.

Source: Staff Report

"I have already been to the Sheriff's Office today," he said. "I was well-received. There are a lot of good men and women out there. We're off and running. We're excited about it. The Benton County Sheriff's Office is going to be back where it should be in the eyes of the public."

Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4, praised Gilbert and the other seven candidates who offered their services as the interim sheriff.

County Judge Bob Clinard echoed Allen's thanks to the candidates and to Gilbert after swearing in the new sheriff.

"We're looking forward to a lot of good things happening out there by the end of the year," Clinard said.

Cradduck faces a felony charge he tampered with a public record and a misdemeanor tampering charge. He's set for a three-day jury trial in September, but a hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Quorum Court approved paying Cradduck nearly $80,000 to resign.

Shawn Holloway, who until recently was a major at the Sheriff's Office, defeated Cradduck in the Republican primary in March. Holloway faces Glenn Latham, an independent candidate, in the November election.

Gilbert, 51, has spent more than 22 years in law enforcement beginning with the Clarksdale, Miss., Police Department where he reached the rank of captain. He left that department to serve with the United Nations mission in Kosovo where he was chief of regional police operations from 2001 to 2003, overseeing the law enforcement operations of more than 1,200 officers in an area with about 463,000 people in six cities and 293 villages.

Gilbert returned to Mississippi in 2009 and became chief deputy with the Coahoma County Sheriff's Office, serving until 2014. He told the justices of the peace he and his wife moved to Northwest Arkansas as they were looking for a place to raise a family. Since 2014 he has worked with Arvest Bank as a deposit risk management manager.

Also Thursday, the Quorum Court approved the third and final reading of an ordinance setting a July 12 special election to increase annual dues for the Beaver Lake Volunteer Fire Department from $75 to $200. The department is asking for the increase to hire three full-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians to supplement the volunteer firefighters the department has relied on. The department would also upgrade its facilities to house full-tine personnel.

The annual dues are levied on each home and business in the department's service district. The dues are listed on the annual property tax statements and collected by the collector's office.

Also Thursday, Clinard told the justices of the peace the work on the new courts building has been slightly delayed. Clinard said the consultants hired are still gathering information from county officials and their initial report on a court building should be given to the county in mid-May rather than the beginning of May.

General News on 05/01/2016