A video of the meeting is placed below the photos that accompany this article.

Corporal Brandon Ellis told council members that Eros, the department’s dual‑purpose canine, has completed four weeks of handler training and is already being deployed in the field. 

Ellis explained that Eros is trained to detect multiple controlled substances and assist officers during searches and pursuits. Describing the scope of the dog’s narcotics work, Ellis said Eros is “trained in narcotic searches… heroin, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamines.”

Ellis said the canine’s patrol function is just as important, particularly during building searches and security calls. He told council members that deploying Eros allows officers to move more safely through unknown spaces, saying the dog “takes the guesswork out” when clearing rooms and hallways.

Ellis described how Eros is used during searches, explaining that the dog moves ahead of officers and alerts them before they advance. “If somebody is hiding behind a door, he will know it,” Ellis said.

Ellis added that Eros is trained to apprehend suspects when necessary, noting that the canine’s role often prevents physical confrontations between officers and suspects. He said the dog “puts less fights on the officer” and reduces the likelihood of injuries during arrests.

Before Ellis’ report, Sgt. Jeremy Hubbard presented February activity statistics for the Prescott Police Department, outlining a month that included 100 dispatched calls handled by four patrol officers. Hubbard said officers conducted 50 traffic stops, wrote 30 citations and made 10 arrests during the month.

Hubbard said officers logged more than 5,400 miles on patrol and completed 31 reports, along with 48 hours of training. He noted that the statistics did not include activity from part‑time officers or supervisory staff.

Hubbard also highlighted recent cooperative efforts with federal agencies, including a human‑trafficking investigation now being handled by the FBI. He told council members that officers “intercepted a possible human trafficking case that’s being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigations right now.”

In another joint operation, Hubbard said Prescott officers assisted Homeland Security and a multi‑agency task force in a drug‑trafficking case that resulted in a major seizure. He reported that authorities recovered “40 pounds of methamphetamine with roughly a street value of around a million dollars.”

Hubbard said the department’s working relationships with federal agencies continue. “Homeland Security has enjoyed working with us,” he said, adding that the FBI plans to conduct training for Prescott officers later this month.

Hubbard also asked the council to consider a proposal to purchase three new tasers for supervisory staff, outlining a five‑year plan that would include training equipment and cartridge replacement. He told council members the cost would be $22,999.40 spread over five years.

Also during the meeting Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Director Mary Godwin provided a series of updates, beginning with reminders about upcoming community events, including the city’s Arbor Day celebration and a regional economic development forum scheduled for April in Nashville, Arkansas.

Godwin reviewed plans for a new double‑sided digital sign approved in the city budget, explaining that the sign will allow multiple community events to be displayed electronically. She said the city selected a higher‑resolution option because “we wanted the one that wasn’t blurry.”

Godwin said the forum would include discussions on transportation, broadband, utilities and workforce issues affecting southwest Arkansas. She told council members the event would feature “speakers coming in to talk about how things are in southwest Arkansas.”

Godwin also discussed the city’s downtown revitalization initiative, describing a multi‑phase effort aimed at addressing vacant buildings and improving the appearance of downtown. She said many unused properties are deteriorating, noting that some are “just in horrible shape.”

Mayor Terry Oliver added that similar programs in other Arkansas communities have focused on long‑term investment rather than profit. He told council members, “It’s not a money‑making thing… it’s to save the town.”

Godwin said the revitalization effort will take time and careful planning. “This is not something that’s going to happen overnight,” she said.

Before concluding her report, Godwin shared information about a new emergency alert system called Code Red which county residents can sign up for using a QR code on the Nevada County Emergency Management Facebook page. She said the system will provide notifications for severe weather and emergencies, explaining that “previous years there was CivicReady and some other programs… they kind of become obsolete.”

The meeting adjourned after about an hour.