Police chief on balancing safety and budget for proposed entertainment district

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Jonesboro police face budgetary constraints that may impact security measures if a proposed entertainment district gets the green light from the city council.

During Tuesday’s session, the Jonesboro City Council advanced a proposal for an entertainment district to its third reading.

The district would enforce strict boundaries to regulate public behavior including staying within the area border if a patron is drinking out of an open container, wearing mandatory wristbands, and more.

Police Chief Rick Elliott said despite being enforced, the rules are bound to get broken.

“There’s always somebody that’s going to refill their cup out of the trunk of their car instead of paying the price at one of the local establishments,” he said.

Elliott recently consulted with chiefs from other cities with similar districts. He suggested a more relaxed approach to security.

“They aren’t seeing the issues that we anticipated we’d be seeing here,” Elliott said. “Fort Smith has some civilians that kind of watch the downtown area, they do have communication with the police department.”

Many businesses, such as Brickhouse Bar and Grill, already employ off-duty police officers for security during late hours when alcohol is sold. However, Elliott stressed there are financial limitations in bringing in more officers.

“It is a budgetary concern that we have money allocated for this till the end of the year,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2025, Elliott said there could be potential adjustments in the city’s budget to accommodate district security costs, contingent upon the proposal’s approval. He added a weekly security evaluation committee would ensure ongoing safety protocols.

“As long as people comply with the rules, then it really shouldn’t be an issue,” Elliott said.

The city council will hold its third hearing on the entertainment district on Tuesday, Aug. 6. If passed, the city expects to implement the district before Arkansas State University’s first football game on Saturday, Aug. 31.

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