Resident praises Springdale police and urges preparedness after nearby extremist demonstration

Resident Rieh Horatika (who said she is also known as Ray Brabs) used the communications-from-the-audience portion of the Feb. 19 meeting to thank Springdale officers for a recent traffic stop and to raise concerns about a recent extremist demonstration in a nearby jurisdiction.

"I really do appreciate that kindness," Horatika said of the Springdale officer who stopped her, and later asked the city to be prepared for similar demonstrations. She described watching video of an incident near Lincoln Heights and expressed concern about police response in that neighboring jurisdiction.

A council speaker who identified themself as Council President thanked Horatika for raising the issue and said city leaders had been monitoring the Lincoln Heights event and attending follow-up meetings. The council speaker said local leaders had attended a Lincoln Heights town hall and would continue conversations with neighboring jurisdictions. "Hate isn't respecting community boundaries, so community shouldn't either," the council speaker said.

Mayor Hawkins and other council members said they had discussed the episode and that Springdale's police department had shown professionalism and preparedness in the city's own work. Council characterized the event as an opportunity to confirm readiness and to coordinate with neighboring communities without endorsing any enforcement action beyond the jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

Horatika closed by repeating a direct request to local officers: "Please keep us safe. Do your job."