After Fordyce shooting, Arkansas officials urge communities to plan for mass violence

Arkansas Department of Public Safety Secretary and Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar at one of last week’s community meetings dealing with mass violence prevention.

Arkansas public safety officials wrapped up a weeklong series of community meetings aimed at strengthening how cities and counties prepare for and respond to mass violence, a growing concern as such incidents rise nationwide.

The Arkansas Department of Public Safety held seven sessions across the state, drawing more than 600 participants from law enforcement, emergency management, schools, hospitals and nonprofit groups. Officials said the goal was to help communities build relationships before they face a crisis.

DPS Secretary and Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar and Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl discussed lessons learned from the June 21, 2024, shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce. Four people were killed and 11 injured in what the FBI classified as one of 12 mass-violence incidents in the U.S. that year. The FBI counts 23 such incidents so far in 2025.

Knoedl said the shooting shattered his belief that a small town could be spared. “I’ve been in law enforcement almost 40 years, and all I could think was ‘Not here. Not here,’” he said. “Don’t ever think that it can’t happen to me, because it can.”

He urged agencies to ensure officers have proper equipment, strengthen communication with neighboring departments and be willing to call for help. He recalled Hagar phoning him moments after the Fordyce shooting. “He said, ‘How bad is it?’ I said, ‘It’s bad.’ He said, ‘I’m on my way.’”

Hagar said he hopes communities never experience such violence but warned they must be ready. “Our mission is to help communities,” he said. “We want to build relationships now and tell communities about the assets we have available if they’re faced with the unthinkable.”

DPS highlighted resources that could assist local agencies, including Arkansas State Police investigative and patrol divisions, the Division of Emergency Management, the State Crime Laboratory, training and standards units, and victim-services programs. The Arkansas Community Foundation also participated to outline how philanthropic support can be coordinated after an incident.

Meetings were held in Russellville, Camden, Rogers, Hope, Jonesboro, Heber Springs and Conway.

Image: Arkansas Department of Public Safety