Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Stovall Guilty But Reinstated At Troop G

BY JOHN MILLER

Ron Stovall, Arkansas State Police Captain at Troop G in Hope, has been reinstated to his former position.

Stovall had been terminated after the ASP determined he had interfered with an ongoing investigation into a suspected drug dealer. According to reports, Stovall counseled the son of a friend who was suspected of selling drugs.

However, the Arkansas State Police Commission voted 4-3 Tuesday, Aug. 31, to rescind the firing and give Stovall his job back.

The hearing, held in Little Rock, took two days, with the panel spending two hours in executive session before rendering its decision.

The commission's decision was to suspend Stovall for his actions for six months without pay, retroactive from March 11, 1999, and put a letter of reprimand in his official personnel jacket.

The commission found no fault in the ASP's initial decision to fire Stovall, though.

The hearing didn't come easy, as five members of the original panel excused themselves from hearing this case. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had to name temporary replacements for these members so the hearing could be held.

W.H. "Sonny" Dillahunty commented on the status of state police rules, saying they are in disarray and hard to understand, even for an attorney.

"There needs to be rules and regulations everyone knows about," he said. "There were some rules we couldn't even find." Dillahunty was one of the three voting against reinstating Stovall.

Bill Sadler, public information officer with the ASP, said Stovall will return to the position he held before being fired.

He said the commission was appointed by the governor and is not actually part of the state police.

Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell expressed his happiness for Stovall and his family, saying all he wanted from the beginning was for Stovall to get a fair hearing.

Otwell filed the original complaint after Stovall contacted David Hicks, 38, of Prescott, who was being watched as a possible drug dealer.

According to reports, Hicks' mother, Selma Hicks, had asked Stovall to have someone talk to her son about his reported illegal activities.

Stovall approached criminal investigator Tommy Pope about this, but when Pope learned Hicks was under surveillance, he begged off and suggested Stovall do the same.

However, Stovall eventually did talk to Hicks about his allegedly selling drugs.

Otwell felt this interfered with an ongoing investigation and filed a formal complaint.

"I'm glad it's over with," Otwell said of the hearing. "The commission's verdict proved there was legitimate concern on my part."

He said Stovall was found guilty for interfering with the investigation, but the commission didn't feel he should be fired for his actions.

"I hope the people who are upset with me understand why I did it," Otwell continued. "If it happens again, I will react in the same manner."

During the hearing it was pointed out Otwell had an open invitation to those with drug problems to come to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office for help.

This is true, Otwell said, but added the offer of assistance is extended to those on drugs who want to get off. "If they wait till we come to them it'll be too late. The help they get may not be the type they would prefer.

"I'm glad it's over with so things can get back to normal."

Stovall was represented by Texarkana attorney Nick Patton, who, from the start, said his client did nothing wrong. Patton took the position his client did nothing other officers haven't done  to counsel a person in need.

He called Stovall's actions "community law enforcement," saying the state's case was shaky at best.

"I'm anxious to get back to work," Stovall said after the decision was made. "I've devoted 28 years to my reputation."

Stovall was surrounded by a group of well-wishers after the decision was handed down, all congratulating him on being returned to his post.

"I have no ill will against anyone involved in this," he said. "I'm happy all these people came out to support me. I finally can get back to being the best state police captain I can be."

Col. Tom Mars, head of the ASP, in March, wrote a 17-page letter explaining why Stovall was terminated. He stated Stovall had been repeatedly told not to talk with this subject because he was being watched as a drug suspect.

Stovall did admit his decision to counsel Hicks was a poor one, but said his intentions were good.