Attorney General Griffin launches Operation Obscured Vision to fight human trafficking statewide

Griffin: ‘January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the best way to prevent human trafficking and rescue its victims is to combat it on one of its key fronts: illicit massage parlors’

Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the execution of search warrants at 12 locations across the state as part of Operation Obscured Vision to combat human trafficking, resulting in aid provided to 16 victims, the arrest of four individuals, and the seizure of nearly $70,000 and a luxury vehicle:

“January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the best way to prevent human trafficking and rescue its victims is to combat it on one of its key fronts: illicit massage parlors.

“Operation Obscured Vision was coordinated by my office’s Special Investigations Division and executed by local law enforcement and victim advocates groups to expose the pervasive issue of illicit massage parlors in Arkansas, rescue the victims of human trafficking, and permanently end the presence of illicit massage parlors in our state.

“Many of the women working in these illicit massage parlors are coerced to do so. One victim we interviewed stated that she is forced to work seven days a week, 13 hours per day.

“I am proud to announce that local law enforcement, with coordination by my office, executed 12 search warrants at illicit massage parlors in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison, and a Little Rock hotel. I congratulate the local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, the Arkansas State Police, and Special Agents in my office for successfully executing this operation.

“I appreciate the efforts of victim’s advocates and the Arkansas Department of Health, who provided language interpreters, nursing services, and other support to help victims receive comprehensive and coordinated assistance to ensure their safety and support their journey toward independence and recovery. Seventeen victims ranging in age from 29-65 were identified in the operation, sixteen accepted services from medical staff and victim’s advocates.

“I am grateful to members of the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for their support of adding a full-time human trafficking investigator to my office. That Special Agent worked tirelessly to coordinate this operation, and it wouldn’t have happened without the agent’s efforts.

“This operation is just a first step. The intelligence and evidence obtained through Operation Obscured Vision will be used in ongoing investigations and will aid in targeting similar massage parlors elsewhere in the state. The criminals who run these establishments and the men who patronize them are on notice. We are coming for you, and we will put an end to this horrific practice of exploiting women through human trafficking.”

Four women were arrested as part of Operation Obscured Vision.

• Haiyan Lu, 54, of Harrison, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Qing Chen, 53, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Hongliang Cai, 55, of Jonesboro, one count of Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree

• Chunli Wang, 50, of Rogers, one count of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree

Law enforcement seized nearly $70,000 during the operation. Additionally, ¥1,870 in Chinese currency was seized in Russellville. A Mercedes-Benz vehicle was seized in Rogers.

Participating law enforcement agencies in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Division

• Arkansas State Police

• Arkansas State Fusion Center

• Jonesboro Police Department

• Harrison Police Department

• Rogers Police Department

• Benton County Sheriff’s Office

• Russellville Police Department

• Little Rock Police Department

• Hot Springs Police Department

Prosecuting Attorneys participating in Operation Obscured Vision include:

• Sonia Hagood, Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Will Jones, Sixth Judicial Prosecuting Attorney

• David Ethredge, Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Michelle Lawrence, Eighteenth-East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

• Bryan Sexton, Nineteenth-West Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney

Advocate groups participating in Operation Obscured Vision included:

• Arkansas Human Trafficking Council

• Into the Light

• Freedom Finders

• Hope Found

• NWA Forensic Nursing Team/REACH

• NWA Sexual Assault Center

• We Are Free

• Regional Intervention of Sexual Exploitation (RISE)

• Children’s Protection Center (CPC) Little Rock

Arkansas law enforcement officers receive overdose reversal kits

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (AORP) has purchased 15,000 Naloxone kits for law enforcement officers across the state. First responders picked up kits of Naloxone, an opioid overdose medication also called Narcan, from a distribution center at the Arkansas National Guard's Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock Thursday.

The kits were purchased by the AORP using $675,000 of funds from nationwide legal settlements with opioid manufacturers. Arkansas Drug Director Tom Fisher became emotional as he gave a warning about the impact of opioid overdoses on the state.

“For those of you who want to know what the opioid crisis is doing to communities across the state of Arkansas, look no further than Little Rock,” Fisher said. “As of today, there were 27 overdose death investigations that were actively being worked, versus 35 homicide investigations. And at the rate we’re going, overdose deaths are as likely to overcome violent crime deaths by the end of the year.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-08-18/arkansas-law-enforcement-officers-receive-overdose-reversal-kits

Maggie Ryan/KUAR News

Arkansas Drug Director Tom Fisher speaks at the Naloxone distribution event at the Arkansas National Guard's Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock on Thursday.

Sanders Appoints Jeff Long as Director of Arkansas Crime Information Center

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center. 
 
“Today, I am proud to be appointing Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Sanders said. “His impressive, extensive public service career with 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement will be a tremendous asset in working with our top-notch team at the Department of Public Safety to keep our state safe and secure with reliable, up-to-date crime data.”
 
“I am humbled by the Governor’s confidence in me to lead the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Long said. “I have dedicated my career to protecting Arkansans and Americans from harm, fully equipping me to serve the people of Arkansas in this capacity and support law enforcement agencies with timely, accurate information. Both Governor Sanders’ and Colonel Mike Hagar’s strong, tough on crime leadership is exactly what our state needs to reduce violent crime, and I look forward to working together as we empower all Arkansans with a safer, stronger state.”
 
Jeff Long Bio:
 
Jeff Long began his public service by joining the Arkansas National Guard in 1982 while still a junior in high school. He later transferred to the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. During his service, he served in various leadership roles. He was a Platoon Sergeant for a HAZ MAT response and served on the Quick Reactionary Force Team in Bagdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
 
After deployment, he served as Regional Area Manager for the 4th Battalion of the 95th Division instructor group. His mission assignment was teaching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advanced and senior leadership courses at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Sergeant Major Long retired from the Army Reserves in 2019 after 36 years of service. 
 
Director Long started his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Russellville Police Department. While there, he served as a training instructor, field training officer, and a member of the SWAT team. 
 
Director Long joined the ranks of the Arkansas State Police in 1997 with his first assignment in Highway Patrol, Troop A. He later became a member of the Honor Guard and transferred to the Executive Protection Division. While he was with the Executive Protection Division he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served as Assistant Detail Commander.    
 
Director Long’s public service career includes 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the U.S Army Sergeants Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, School of Law Enforcement and Supervision. 
 
Director Long is a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 33 years. The couple have beautiful twin daughters.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

From one-time bonuses to increased funding for safety equipment, the 93rd General Assembly made support for law enforcement a top priority in this fiscal session.

Act 224 provides a one-time stipend of $5,000 to full-time certified city and county law enforcement officers as well as probation and parole officers.

It also provides for a $2,000 one-time stipend for state troopers.

Act 223 increases the average starting salary for state troopers from $42,357 to $54,000.

This act also allows for an increase of positions at the Arkansas Crime Lab.

Act 225 which outlines the budget for Fiscal Year 2023 funds an increase for county jail reimbursement from $32 per day to $40 per day and provides $10 million for body cameras, bullet-proof vests, and other law-enforcement safety equipment.

The General Assembly passed Act 219 which will provide funding to hire an additional 45 deputy prosecutors this fiscal year.

Act 222 will provide funding for an additional 45 public defenders.

This will help to alleviate a backlog of cases in our court system.

Speaker Shepherd and Senator Hickey have issued a proclamation that calls for the Fiscal Session of the 93rd General Assembly to automatically adjourn sine die at noon on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

In accordance with House Rules, a caucus of the entire House of Representatives will be held 15 minutes following adjournment to elect the Speaker-designate for the 94th General Assembly. The House caucus will convene at 12:15 p.m. this Tuesday, March 15, 2022, for this purpose.

You can watch all House proceedings at www.arkansashouse.org.

AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | Showing Appreciation to our Law Enforcement Officers

LITTLE ROCK – The 93rd General Assembly wrapped up its fiscal session this week, and today I’d like to commend legislators for their support of law enforcement in Arkansas.

The 93rd General Assembly was one of the most law enforcement friendly sessions ever. Legislators voted to fund stipends, pay raises, new positions, and equipment. They increased the reimbursement to county jails for the care of state prisoners and allocated money for the expansion of a prison in Calico Rock.

Legislators and leaders of law enforcement joined me at a table in the rotunda as I signed three bills that the General Assembly passed with unanimous bipartisan support.

The new laws were recommendations from a task force which I created during the national unrest that swept the nation after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in the summer of 2020.

At the time, protesters around the country were burning buildings in cities. Many demanded that cities slash spending on police departments or disband them altogether.

When I introduced the task force, I stated clearly that there would be no discussions of diminishing our support of law enforcement. The task force’s mission was to find ways that the state and cities could support law enforcement. I wanted to ensure that officers were as safe on the job as humanly possible. I wanted to improve the relationship between police officers and their communities.

This is why I signed into law 3 bills that support our police officers across the state. Senate Bill 103 grants a one-time stipend of $5,000 to full-time certified city and county law enforcement officers and full-time certified state Department of Corrections probation and parole officers.

The bill gives a one-time stipend of $2,000 to full-time certified state troopers and other certified law enforcement officers of the Department of Public Safety.

Officers who are employed by July 1 of this year, or who are hired by January 3 of next year, are eligible for the stipend. The bonus is a show of appreciation for our current officers, and it’s also a recruiting tool as we seek to hire great officers.

House Bill 1026, which became Act 223, increases the average annual starting salary for state troopers from around $42,000 to $54,000. That raises the salary by more than $11,000. The raise moves us up in the rankings in surrounding states from seventh for starting salaries to second.

Act 223 also funds salaries for five more forensic employees for the Arkansas Crime Lab to accelerate the testing of sexual assault kits, which must be completed within 60 days of submission.

Act 225 includes money to fund a prison construction project at Calico Rock. This is important to assure space for those who are currently backed up in our county jails.

It also provides $10 million for body cameras, bullet-proof vests, and other equipment that will improve safety for officers and build community confidence in their professionalism.

Government has no greater responsibility than to assure public safety. We also owe it to our police officers, who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and to provide cutting-edge training and the best equipment to keep them on the job and safe from their work.

Our support of law enforcement did not begin with the 93rd General Assembly, but we certainly put an exclamation point on our support this year.

Governor Hutchinson Signs Bills To Grant Stipends, Raise Salaries for Law Enforcement, Corrections

LITTLE ROCK – Law enforcement leaders and legislators gathered in the second-floor rotunda at the state capitol today as Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a bill that grants one-time stipends of up to $5,000 to police and probation and parole officers, and a second bill that increases the salary for Arkansas state troopers and other certified law enforcement officers of the Department of Public Safety.

“This was a public service session in which we showed our appreciation and the value we place on our law enforcement officers,” Governor Hutchinson said. “There’s not been a session of the legislature that’s done more to my knowledge for law enforcement.”

Over the past seven years, Arkansas has improved its parole and probation system, mandated crisis-intervention training for officers, and upgraded the state’s 911 system.

“Our support for law enforcement did not begin with this session,” the Governor said, “but we certainly put an exclamation point on it this time.”

Senate Bill 103 grants a one-time stipend of $5,000 to full-time certified city and county law enforcement officers and full-time certified state Department of Corrections probation and parole officers. The bill gives a one-time stipend of $2,000 to full-time certified state troopers and other certified law enforcement officers of the Department of Public Safety. 

Senate Pro Tempore Jimmy Hickey sponsored the bill in the Senate, and Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd carried it in the House.

House Bill 1026 increases the average annual starting salary for state troopers from $42,357 to $54,000.

“That is an increase of more than $11,000 in starting salary for our state troopers,” the Governor said. “That will move us from seventh in our region for starting salaries to second in our region.”

Pay for troopers first class will increase from $53,035 to $60,006. The average annual salary for corporals will increase from $63,612 to $71,237; sergeants’ pay will increase from $74,319 to $84,439. The average annual salary for lieutenants will increase from $84,229 to $94,076; captains from $94,277 to $105,166: majors from $107,541 to $116,772.

HB1206 also funds salaries for five more forensic so that the Arkansas Crime Lab can complete testing of sexual assault kits within 60 days as required by Act 839 of 2019.

Governor Hutchinson also signed Senate Bill 101, which amends the Revenue Stabilization law in part to fund the increase in state troopers' salaries. The bill also funds an increase in the Department of Corrections budget to bump the reimbursements to county jails from $32 per day to $40 per day. SB 101 also includes money to fund a prison construction project at Calico Rock, improvements at the schools for the deaf and blind, and the Northwest Arkansas Veterans Home.

SB 101 provides $10 million for body cameras, bullet-proof vests, and other equipment “that will make our officers safer and build community confidence in their professionalism.”

The new laws were the result of recommendations from the Task Force to Improve Law Enforcement that Governor Hutchinson created after the death of George Floyd. The task force recommended that Arkansas should pay competitive law enforcement salaries and create a grant program to increase public confidence in the training and professionalism of Arkansas’s law enforcement officers.

“No responsibility is more important for government than to assure public safety,” the Governor said. “Our police officers are risking their lives ... and they deserve our support and thanks."

Governor Vetoes Gun Bill Over Concerns with Federal Law Enforcement Cooperation

by Talk Business & Politics staff

Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed SB 298, the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021, over concerns it would hinder local and state law enforcement cooperation with federal law enforcement entities. It is Hutchinson’s third veto of the session.

“The partnership between state and local law enforcement officers is essential for the safety of Arkansas citizens. This bill will break that partnership and put the safety of Arkansans at risk,” the governor said.

Citing several legal precedents on gun laws enumerated in the bill, Hutchinson also said its implementation would have the effect of giving opportunities for violent criminals to circumvent prosecution.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/governor-vetoes-gun-bill-over-concerns-with-federal-law-enforcement-cooperation/

Governor Outlines Legislative Accomplishments, Disappointments

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Governor Asa Hutchinson has had a much more successful legislative session than headlines would suggest. The governor discussed his achievements and letdowns in a Talk Business & Politics interview that aired statewide on Sunday (April 18).

Hutchinson has signed new laws dealing with hate crimes, raising teacher pay, improving computer science requirements, and reforming law enforcement practices.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/governor-outlines-legislative-accomplishments-disappointments/

Gov. Asa Hutchinson