By Rick Harvey

Eureka Springs Times-Echo

A familiar face is the new police chief in Eureka Springs.
Mayor Butch Berry confirmed that Billy Floyd, formerly the department’s patrol supervisor, was selected among four candidates who interviewed and officially took over the department on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
“Among all the candidates and applicants that applied, Billy was one of the local applicants that we had and one of the people who we interviewed,” Berry said. “We interviewed four of them and Billy was the one who came out on top.”
Berry said during the interview process Floyd had a “lot of thinking outside of the box” when it came to law enforcement in Eureka Springs.
“He talked about a lot of community involvement, trying to get more people downtown, getting the the bicycle cops back more active,” Berry said.
The mayor said he and Floyd talked about ideas such as a possible crisis intervention center for the community.
“It would be not only for Eureka Springs, but for Carroll County,” Berry said. “Like what they’re trying to put in in Fayetteville.
“He had some interesting concepts that I think can fit right into Eureka. That kind of hit some good buttons with me.
Floyd has been with ESPD since 2011, Berry said, adding that he thinks the new chief got his start in 2007 in Berryville.
Floyd replaces Brian Young ,who submitted his resignation in September and whose last day was Tuesday, Oct. 31.
A total of 19 candidates submitted resumes for the position. ESPD assistant chief Brian Jones was also an applicant.