Helena–West Helena, Arkansas

Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, held a special council meeting after Police Chief Quanderius Sanders publicly flagged a staffing crisis within the department. The issue came to a head Monday when only four officers, including the chief himself, were available to cover the city, forcing Sanders to work alone for six hours before backup arrived. He said all calls, including a domestic incident, a fire, and a hit and run, were handled during that window.

Council members pressed the chief on whether overtime was a factor, but Sanders attributed Monday's shortfall to sick calls coinciding with a shift to standard eight-hour schedules from 12-hour shifts, a change intended to curb overtime costs. Sanders said he needs nine additional officers but faces recruitment struggles, citing competing offers from other agencies with higher pay. The starting wage is just over $19 an hour, and while the mayor acknowledged city employees deserve raises, he said any pay increase must be implemented responsibly.