2021 Recap & Looking Forward

Last year was a busy year for the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. We had the biggest meth bust in memory at a house south of Booneville where over three pounds of meth were seized. We did this with the cooperation of the Booneville Police Department and the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force. We also cooperate very well with the other law enforcement agencies including the Paris and Magazine Police Departments, Arkansas State Police, and Arkansas Game & Fish Wildlife Officers by constantly meeting and sharing information. This led to the creation of the Logan County Area Law Enforcement Banquet where we are getting together for fellowship and to hand out awards to our employees.

According to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office presented more affidavits for arrest to their office than any other police department or sheriff’s office that are in the four-county 15th Judicial District (Conway, Logan, Scott, and Yell Counties). Our deputies are always pursuing cases, making a diligent effort to speak with all parties, and presenting good case files for review. Our supervisors then review the case files and affidavits for arrest and make sure all of the correct offenses are listed and the case files are complete. The case files and affidavit for arrests are then sent to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

We received our 2021 Annual Report from the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee who inspect all of the county and city jails in Arkansas. We are in compliance with all 75 mandatory requirements. The report stated: “The agency works to provide positive programming and support services. The site has a chaplain, addiction support, GED programs (one inmate recently obtained a GED), and more. The Review Committee commends the site, in terms of support and positive programming. These efforts can make a positive impact on the facility, the community, families, and more. The Review Committee applauds the agency and county, as they move forward. The professional staff oversees a clean site.” We are very proud of this assessment and our Detention staff works very hard in the custody and care of our county jail.

Logan County is also considering using some of the American Rescue Plan Act money to build solar panels at the jail. We are currently paying around $70,000 a year in utility bills. With solar panels, we will drastically reduce this amount of money. Solar panels have a 25- to 30-year life span and with the costs of electricity continually rising (I can’t imagine what the utility bill will be 10 to 20 years from now), solar panels will greatly reduce the burden on the Detention budget for the next couple of decades.

We hope you had a blessed 2021 and we hope that continues in 2022!

~ Sheriff Massey