Turning off the engines to their patrol cars has helped the De Queen Police Department save gas and listen for loud noises.

To conserve gasoline, De Queen police started turning off the engines for about one hour per 10-hour shift, said De Queen Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy. The policy was implemented about two months ago.

When the patrol car engines were turned off, officers became attuned to noises and have issued 19 citations for loud music in eight weeks.

The loud noise violations were created by car stereos instead of the problem two years ago with rowdy roo...

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