As of June 1, 2015, the City of Batesville has its own police department with 24-hour patrol of at least five officers. Since 1981, law enforcement for the City was provided by the Independence County Sheriff’s Department with 2-3 officers on patrol. Following a feasibility study in 2014, the City Council voted in December to discontinue the interlocal agreement and increase the number of officers on the street by re-establishing a city police department.
Chief Alan Cockrill was hired in January 2015 to get the department up and running, and on June 1, we opened our doors on the corner of South Central Ave. and West Boswell St. Our officers, investigators and patrolmen are fully equipped with squad cars, bicycles, K-9 officers and all other resources needed to serve and protect the City of Batesville.