TODAY IS THE LAST DAY ON THE JOB FOR POPLAR BLUFF DEPUTY POLICE CHIEFToday is the final day on the job for Poplar Bluff Police Department Deputy Chief Jeff Rolland.
KWOC News spoke with Rolland about his career and retirement:
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JEFF ROLLAND:
I started my law enforcement career in 1984 when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went through the MP training in the Marine Corps Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. I spent four years in the Marine Corps as a MP, when I was discharged Cindy and I moved back to Poplar Bluff, went back to work for the Butler County Sheriff's Office as a road deputy. Spent two-and-a-half years there until August 1st of 1990 when I was hired by the Poplar Bluff Police Department. I spent 26 years with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, been in the Patrol Division, Narcotics investigator, detective, Captain in charge of the detective Division, and then promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. The last 10 years with the Poplar Bluff Police Department my main function is to make sure that we meet budgetary goals, that the road officers, the detectives, and the other division commanders have the assets they need to serve the public to the best of our abilities. It's humbling it's an honor to serve the citizens of this great Community as their Deputy Chief of Police. I truly believe that the police department belongs to the public. It's their agency we just get to serve it for very brief period time. I'm honored and humbled that I was able to spend 26 years with the Poplar Bluff PD, two and a half years with the Butler County Sheriff's Office and the public put that trust in me. I love this community. To the residents of Poplar Bluff and Butler County, thank you very much.
Rolland will be succeeded by Donnie Trout as Poplar Bluff Deputy Chief of Police.
POPLAR BLUFF TEEN ARRESTED AFTER MARIJUANA FOUND IN A VEHICLE A Poplar Bluff teenager has been taken into custody after police found marijuana during the search of a vehicle.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, an officer conducted a search of a vehicle Wednesday as a part of a narcotics investigation.
While searching the vehicle, the officer discovered approximately 56 grams of marijuana. A passenger in the vehicle, 19 year old Trevor Crook, told the officer that the marijuana in the vehicle was his.
Crook was taken into custody for possession of more than 35 grams of marijuana. He was later lodged into the Butler County Justice Center awaiting bond.
METHAMPHETAMINE AND GUNS FOUND IN CORNING RESIDENCE Officials in Northeast Arkansas say six people have been taken into custody after guns and meth were found in a Corning residence.
Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller tells us that the Corning Police Department and Clay County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at the home Thursday morning.
During the search, officials located 10.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 7.9 grams of suspected marijuana. 14 firearms were also located in the house, one of which was a loaded sawed off 12 gauge shotgun.
Miller says that six people were arrested and additional information will be released after further investigation.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REPUBLICANS TO MEET IN POPLAR BLUFF TO SELECT DELEGATS FOR REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION Republicans in Southeast Missouri will be convening in Poplar Bluff to select delegates for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
We spoke with Eddy Justice, Chairman of the 8th Congressional District, about the event on Saturday:
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EDDY JUSTICE:
This Saturday on the campus of Three Rivers college at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, delegates of 29 counties in the 8th district will Converge on Poplar Bluff to elect three delegates and three alternates to the Republican National Convention. The delegates will also elect an elector a member of the Electoral College to represent the 8th District. These delegates that are elected will go to the Republican National Convention and will vote for Donald Trump on the first ballot at the convention. These delegates will vote for Donald Trump on the first ballot because of the election results held in the presidential preference primary earlier this year, in which Donald Trump won by 12,065 votes.
The event is scheduled to start Saturday at 10 am.
DRUG TAKE BACK EVENT SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH IN POPLAR BLUFF The Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will be holding a drug take back event this weekend.
We spoke with Captain Dave Sutton with the Poplar Bluff Police Department about the event:
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DAVE SUTTON:
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 11th opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Black River Coliseum at 301 S. 5th. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
In addition, other area agencies, including the Doniphan Police Department, have announced they will be holding a take back event this weekend.
VFW RIDERS POKER RUN SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY The VFW Riders District 15 West and Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church will be teaming up for a Poker Run on Saturday.
Registration for the event will begin at 8:30 am at the Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church on D Highway. The run will begin at 11 am. Some of the proceeds from the event will go to the VA Hospital CLC.
Attendees can also bring a non-perishable item donation for the church food bank. For more information, contact VFW Post 3416 at 573-222-9687.
