Alexander detective ends reign of burglary gang; solves cases for multiple jurisdictions

Between June 7 and June 10 the City of Alexander Police Department received reports on a, “string of burglaries and vehicle break-ins.” With very few leads, “Detective Hill immediately embarked on an exhaustive canvas of the area and worked with victims and five other Law Enforcement agencies to quickly develop multiple suspects and uncover a criminal enterprise.”

Those are quotes from an Honorable Service Medal award presented to Criminal Investigative Detective Jessica Hill at the June city council meeting. Her efforts resulted in solving multiple crimes committed in Alexander, Bryant, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Cabot, and surrounding rural communities.

The award was presented to her by Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper. Reading the award Harper begins by saying, “For outstanding performance as a member of the Alexander Police Department between June 7th 2019 and June 10th 2019.”

From L to R; Det. Jessica Hill, Asst. Police
Chief Richard Harper and Police Chief
Robert Burnett.

Going into more detail concerning the investigation the award states, “Then as part of a two-person team, Detective Hill obtained through interrogation multiple confessions. Her team’s impressive interview/interrogation acumen garnered praise from senior investigators of multiple Law Enforcement agencies including the Arkansas State Police. Her efforts directly resulted in the recovery of three stolen vehicles, three stolen firearms, and more than $200,000.00 of other personal property taken from the citizens of Alexander, Bryant, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Cabot, and surrounding rural communities. Detective Hill in three days, closed sixteen Felony and seven Misdemeanor Alexander Police Department criminal cases and assisted in closing seven cases for other Law Enforcement agencies.”

“Your consistency of demonstrating concern for the people of this city and your caring attitude, high level of initiative, and the relentless pursuit of those who would harm our citizens are a major contributing factor in your accomplishments,” Harper still reading the award. “It is Police Officers such as yourself that set the example for others to emulate and impress upon the citizens of Alexander that their Police Department is professional, concerned, caring, and dedicated to providing a better environment in which to live.”

While presenting the Honorable Service Medal to Detective Hill there was a round of applause.

After the presentation Harper said, “She worked these cases methodically and ruthlessly until she put someone in jail.”

Prior to the presentation Police Chief Robert Burnett commented on the praise being received by the department.

“Pats on the back from bigger agencies, State Police, Little Rock, … it kinda makes you take notice,” Burnett said. “And, especially when you have those divisions trying to snatch our detective away to go work for them, that’s a good thing.”

As for crime Burnett said for a small city, “We are not crime free.”

Both Burnett and Harper explained while it may appear that, “Sexual assaults are on the rise,” it’s more due to the reporting of sexual assaults is up.

“The community trusts us more and they know we’re going to do something about it,” Harper said.