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By Lynda Hollenbeck
Courier Staff Benton Police Chief Gary Sipes said this morning that he is deciding whether to accept a similar position at the Jacksonville Police Department.
Sipes said he expected to make his decision later today.
He acknowledged that he applied for the Jacksonville position and was offered the job.
“I’m considering the option [at Jacksonville], but I haven’t made my decision yet,” said Sipes, who has served as chief for a little more than four years.
“This was not a spur-of the moment thing,” Sipes added. “I saw an ad for the Jacksonville position. The former chief’s last day was March 28. I was aware there was an opening for several weeks. They advertised the job, and I simply put my resume in for it. I was chosen for an interview and was offered the position.”
Mayor Rick Holland said he has encouraged Sipes to remain in Benton, but said he will honor the chief’s decision.
Holland said he did not ask for Sipes’ resignation.
“In my opinion, he’s the best thing that’s happened to this department,” Holland said. “He’s the best chief we’ve ever had, and I hope he will stay with us.
“He’s brought the department a long way in four years,” Holland added. “The morale is high in the department. We hope that he stays here, but we want what’s best for him and his family.
“He’s been offered a lot more money there — about $8,000 more a year than what he’s paid here,” Holland said.
Sipes’ base pay in Benton is $59,865, plus benefits that bring his total package to about $69,000. The base pay in Jacksonville reportedly is around $67,000.
Holland would not confirm that local politics is involved in the decision, but acknowledged that “Benton politics can be tough sometimes. But I believe you run into that in every city.”
The chief said recent embarrassing circumstances in the police department, which involved the demotion of a female officer after her reportedly inappropriate behavior, did not play a role in Sipes’ current situation.
“I don’t think that’s a factor at all,” Holland said. “There are always conflicts in any department. It’s just a career choice.”
Sipes never has moved to Benton, but Holland said the chief has complied with all requirements of his job. He lives about 30 miles from Benton and has family members residing in Jacksonville, Holland said.
The chief said he applied for the Jacksonville job before the recent controversy at the police department became public knowledge. “We’re in a competitive market,” Sipes said. “When you’re offered a lot more money, you have to take a serious look at it.”
Sipes, who will turn 51 on April 11, said news of his offer from Jacksonville “got out prematurely. I’m having to make a decision before I’m ready to make it. I can’t believe how quickly this got out.”
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim said today that no announcement there has been made regarding Siples, but confirmed that Sipes has been offered the chief’s job.
“We still have some paperwork issues to resolve,” Swaim said, “but we have offered him the position as police chief.
“The salary is in the high $60s,” Swaim said. “It varies with certain benefits ... it will be between $67,000 and 68,000.”
Friday was the last day on duty for former Jacksonville Chief Robert L. Baker Swaim said. “He retired after 30 years with the department and served four years as the chief,” Swaim added.
“I hope to announce Chief Sipes as the new Jacksonville police chief this week, but in the meantime Kenny Boyd will serve as the interim chief,” Swaim said. “I have given Sipes the option of coming after Mayor Rick Holland has given him a time frame to leave, however long that may be. I have discussed this with Mayor Holland, and that is something that I do with any department head in any city.
“There’s always regret in losing someone that has been with the department for a long time,” Swaim said of Baker. “But we are excited to have a new person come in, and we’ll help him make that transition as smooth as possible.”
Sipes came to work in Benton on Jan. 5, 2004. He is a 24-year veteran of the North Little Rock Police Department, retiring from the department in April 1999 to become the city’s code enforcement director.
Holland said Sipes has led code enforcement officers here into “excellent performance. He’s done a tremendous job. His officers were able to eliminate 40 dilapidated houses last year alone.”
A Pine Bluff native, Sipes graduated from high school there in 1975.
During his law enforcement career, he served in various capacities. In May 1994 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned to the administrative patrol division, serving as second in command of what was then a 121-member patrol staff. He also served as narcotics division commander, SWAT team commander and community-oriented police commander.
Courier staff members Jillian Duke and Matt Burks contributed to this report.
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