Faulkner County, Arkansas

A former chief of the Mayflower Police Department has been charged with assisting a convicted felon to obtain emergency blue lights.  Richard Shaw was the Police Chief of Mayflower, Arkansas beginning in August of 2009. 

In November of 2009, investigators began looking into the Mayflower Police Department's possible use of a convicted felon as a law enforcement officer.  The investigation resulted in the arrest of John Andrew Brinkley, who previously pled guilty to a felony hot check charge in 2007.  On November 25, 2009, 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden charged Brinkley with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Impersonation, and Illegally Purchasing a Blue Light. 

After the investigation on Brinkley was concluded, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office began to investigate Shaw's involvement.  Based upon additional evidence obtained, Vaden filed a felony charge on March 12, 2010, against Shaw for assisting a convicted felon in the purchase of blue emergency equipment.  "It is inconceivable to me that any police officer would assist a felon so that the felon would appear as a law enforcement officer to the public.  And for that person assisting the felon to be the chief of police is simply inexcusable," Vaden said.  Shaw is charged with violating A.C.A. Section 5-77-201.