Pine Bluff police officials reported declines in several major crime categories and outlined staffing and schedule changes during the city’s Public Safety Committee meeting Sept. 9, the Pine Bluff Commercial reported.
The department counted 213 crimes in August 2026, compared with 269 in August 2025 — about a 21% decrease. Officials highlighted drops in robberies, aggravated and simple assaults, commercial burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts, while theft reports rose from 97 to 118. Homicides were listed as one in August 2026 versus two a year earlier.
Police Chief Shawn Davis said officers were preparing to move to 12-hour shifts beginning Sept. 20, overlapping with an eight-hour middle shift for continuous coverage and more days off between work periods. Leadership put full-time strength near 94 officers (heading toward 95) plus 13 part-time, with 28 applicants in process. Mayor Vivian Flowers praised prevention work, substations and pursuit of serious offenders.
Animal Control also announced the first annual “Paws and Pumpkins” event Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Animal Control Center ($10 microchipping, adoptable pets, public-safety vehicles and food trucks).
