Little Rock, Arkansas – The Little Rock Police Department loses its second interim head in just six months during a city-record year for homicides.
On Wednesday, Interim Chief Wayne Bewley made his retirement announcement and said he would be accepting a new position.
“I am forever grateful to the City of Little Rock. With that being said, it is time to move on to the next chapter of my life,” Bewley said in a statement.
Bewley’s statement coincides with the current hunt for a long-term successor to the outgoing chief, Keith Humphrey, who left his position in May. The former interim chief, Crystal Young-Haskins, left her position in June.
Leadership is crucial to the department, according to Little Rock Fraternal Order of Police President Zac Farley.
“Any agency… you need your top-level leaders,” Farley said.
The turnover, according to Farley, is not a reflection on the department as a whole; rather, those who have occupied this position this year may have found other employment possibilities.
“I don’t think that’s really anything bad on the police department,” Farley said. “Chief Bewley — he’s had a long, distinguished career with the police department.”
Heath Helton, the current assistant chief, will take on the temporary role starting on December 3, and Bewley will leave on December 16.