PINE BLUFF, Ark. — More than 75 members of the Pine Bluff community gathered Saturday to remember Detective Kevin Collins on the fourth anniversary of his murder.
The crowd included members of the Pine Bluff Police Department, which Collins served with, as well as other Pine Bluff city employees and officials and Collins' friends and family.
“He had a heart to serve,” Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington said. “We always talked about how he wanted to serve from two years old. That was evident. It was evident in everything he did."
The crowd gathered at 200 East 8th Avenue, a building that now bears Collins' name—it has been known as the “Detective Kevin D. Collins Center” since October 2023.
Police Chief Denise Richardson spoke at length about how special Collins was and said he deserves a building named after him- particularly one where new officers will be trained.
"Collins was everything to us,” Richardson said. “He knew how to present himself. He is the example when we teach officers how to wear their uniform. When we teach officers how to talk to people in the community, he is the example."
Collins' life was tragically cut short when he was shot and killed on October 5, 2020, at the age of 35.
He was responding to a call at the Econo Lodge on Blake Street to arrest Keshone Smith, who had a warrant out in Georgia.
This past April, Smith was found guilty of Collins’ murder, making this the first event of its kind since the trial ended.
Collins’ mother said the trial brought the family some much-needed closure, but it also created mixed emotions.
"It's bittersweet,” Dornetta Hobbs said. “It's sweet in that we got some justice for him. It's sad in that I'm hoping that young man gets a chance to change his life, to change his thoughts, and to give his life to Christ."
While tears were shed, this day ultimately was about remembering Collins’ life.
Washington said it best.
"While the incident of his death will always impact our life, it is how he lived that we will remember most,” Washington said.
Hobbs also spoke about her family’s efforts to keep Collins’ name alive, including a scholarship for Arkansas-Pine Bluff students studying criminal justice or a related field.
Two of the scholarship recipients were at the event on Saturday.