State Police React to Indictment

From State Police HQ... (LITTLE ROCK) - As an integral part of the Arkansas criminal justice system, the Arkansas State Police endeavors each hour of every day to comply with the directives and orders of our prosecutors and courts. We respect the judicial system that each of us as law enforcement officers are sworn to serve. The citizens of Benton County have spoken today very clearly through the efforts of a locally impaneled grand jury charged with the duty to review the evidence relating to the tragic March 7th 2006 shooting death of Erin Hamley. This department will continue to fully cooperate with prosecutors and judicial officers as this case now enters a new phase. During the coming days, Colonel Steve Dozier, Director of the Arkansas State Police will empanel a lethal force review board and begin the internal administrative process of investigating whether Corporal Larry Norman acted within the scope of Arkansas State Police policy when he fired a shotgun blast at Hamley along U.S. Highway 412. "As director of this department, I want to make it perfectly clear to the citizens of this state; the Arkansas State Police will be accountable to the courts and to the public," Colonel Dozier said. Corporal Norman remains relieved of his line of duty assignment (with pay) pending the departmental review recommendations. All internal policies and training curriculum relating to use of force remain under review to determine whether any of these materials should be revised in our best attempt to do whatever we can to prevent any recurrence of such a tragedy as this one.