The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees will consider naming ASU-Newport’s Criminal Justice Department after a slain Newport police officer.
Lt. Patrick Weatherford was killed June 12th when he was shot while responding to a call of a vehicle break in. Weatherford was a 15 year veteran of the Newport Police Department and was named the 2016 Jackson County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He was also a part-time campus police officer at ASU-Newport. A 16-year old is facing capital murder charges in the shooting death of Weatherford. An 18-year old that had previously been accused of the shooting will now face charges of breaking or entering, theft of property and furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor. During Friday’s Arkansas State University Board of Trustees meeting in Jonesboro, the trustees will consider naming ASU-Newport’s Criminal Justice Department after Weatherford.
