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Mayor says city will pursue fact-based review after fatal incident at Pine Bluff aquatic center
Summary
Mayor announced a police investigation and Department of Health review into a recent fatal incident involving 'Mrs. Collins' at the city aquatic center and pledged to make the final report public and responsive to FOIA requests.
The mayor of Pine Bluff told the City Council on June 15 that city officials are conducting a comprehensive, fact-based review of a recent tragic incident at the municipal aquatic center that resulted in the death of a person identified in the record as "Mrs. Collins." The mayor said the city has engaged the Pine Bluff Police Department and the Department of Health and that any FOIA requests for records will be honored once the investigation concludes.
"We are working behind the scenes to address this in a way that is not only sensitive, but that is right," the mayor said, noting the Collins family is from Fordyce and that the city is coordinating an investigation and review to ensure a complete and truthful report. The mayor added: "We are praying with and for the Collins family."
City officials told the council they will release the results publicly when the investigation is complete. The mayor said the review will be both internal (from the mayor’s office) and external, with standard police investigative steps and Department of Health oversight related to the aquatic facility.
No additional operational or disciplinary actions were announced at the June 15 meeting. City officials said further updates will be provided publicly as they become available and that records requested under the Freedom of Information Act will be released in full at the conclusion of the investigative process.
Next steps: investigators from the Pine Bluff Police Department and the Department of Health will examine the circumstances; the mayor indicated the city will post the findings when the review is complete.
