Goodman Police Department

09/03/2026

Citizens of Goodman and McDonald County,

I, Brian Ledford, Chief of the Goodman Police Department, am releasing this statement regarding the incident that occurred on August 24, 2026. Due to ongoing social media posts and questions surrounding the incident, this press release is intended to provide accurate information and clarify any concerns citizens may have regarding what occurred.

Brian Ledford
Goodman Chief of Police

07/05/2026

Citizens of Goodman,

Please be on the lookout for this subject who was trespassing and broke into a building to steal from the owner. If you can identify him please contact McDonald County Dispatch at (417) 223-2060, or contact a Goodman Police Officer to relay the information. If you wish to stay anonymous, we can make that happen.

As always, if you don’t have cameras on your property I strongly encourage you to get them if you’re able to. Not only will they help law enforcement identify a suspect of a crime, it will help in recovering stolen property to get it returned to the rightful owner, and get the suspect(s) placed into custody where they belong.

Thank you,

Brian Ledford
Goodman Police Chief

“Goodman area, especially down Splitlog.

Everyone keep an eye on your things and Vehicles, this fella broke into our shop last night and stole fuel and a fuel can, he came around 2 am and snooped around checked our trucks. Then came back around 4 am and broke in. As you can see in the pictures he had hose and a can so I figure he will siphon out of cars or anything else. We have video and pictures would appreciate any info.”

04/27/2026

01/22/2026

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BEFORE THE STORM (24–48 HOURS AHEAD)
❄️1. Charge all phones, power banks, tablets, and rechargeable lanterns.
❄️2. Fill vehicle gas tanks in case stations lose power.
❄️3. Get cash in small bills in case card systems go down.
❄️4. Pick up prescriptions and essential medications early.
❄️5. Download movies, books, and maps for offline use.
❄️6. Identify one warm room in the house to “camp out” if power fails.
❄️7. Locate water shut-off valve and breaker box now, not later.
❄️8. Set fridge and freezer to colder settings to hold temperature longer.

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WATER AND PIPE PROTECTION
❄️9. Drip faucets on exterior walls when temps drop below freezing.
❄️10. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air circulation.
❄️11. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots.
❄️12. Cover outdoor faucets with insulated caps or towels.
❄️13. Know how to shut off water quickly if a pipe bursts.
❄️14. Fill jugs, buckets, or bathtub with water for flushing and washing.

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FOOD AND KITCHEN PREP
❄️15. Keep 3–5 days of no-cook food: peanut butter, tuna, bread, crackers, canned meat, fruit cups.
❄️16. Have manual can opener available.
❄️17. Buy shelf-stable milk or powdered milk if needed.
❄️18. Freeze a few water bottles to act as freezer “ice packs.”
❄️19. Keep a cooler ready to move fridge food outside if power is out and temps are below freezing.
❄️20. Avoid stocking large amounts of perishables right before the storm.

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HEAT AND HOME SAFETY
❄️21. Gather extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers.
❄️22. If using a fireplace, confirm chimney is clear and have dry wood.
❄️23. Never run generators or grills inside garages or homes.
❄️24. Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.
❄️25. Have at least one flashlight per person plus spare batteries.
❄️26. Use battery lanterns instead of candles when possible.

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VEHICLE AND TRAVEL
❄️27. Plan to avoid driving once freezing rain begins.
❄️28. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded roads freeze first.
❄️29. Keep in the car: blanket, water, snacks, phone charger, gloves.
❄️30. Replace old wiper blades and top off washer fluid.
❄️31. Park away from large tree limbs when possible.
❄️32. Assume flights and travel may be disrupted for days.

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POWER OUTAGE PLAN
❄️33. Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surge damage.
❄️34. Keep one battery radio or weather app for updates.
❄️35. Use surge protectors for TVs and computers.
❄️36. Know where warming centers may be in your parish.
❄️37. Have extension cords ready if using a generator outside.
❄️38. Keep refrigerator closed to preserve cold air.

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PETS AND LIVESTOCK
❄️39. Bring pets indoors with extra food and water.
❄️40. Provide outdoor animals with unfrozen water sources.
❄️41. Add straw or blankets to outdoor shelters.
❄️42. Keep leashes and carriers accessible in case of evacuation.

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MEDICAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS
❄️43. Keep a written list of medications and dosages.
❄️44. Store a small first-aid kit with thermometer and basic meds.
❄️45. Have backup batteries for medical devices.
❄️46. Identify a place with power you could relocate to if needed.

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PROPERTY PROTECTION
❄️47. Move vehicles away from trees or power lines.
❄️48. Secure outdoor furniture and lightweight items.
❄️49. Avoid trimming trees during the storm—do it beforehand.
❄️50. Photograph property for insurance before conditions worsen.

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DURING THE STORM
❄️51. Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
❄️52. Assume downed lines are live and dangerous.
❄️53. Use only safe indoor heating methods.
❄️54. Check on neighbors, especially elderly, by phone if possible.
❄️55. Report outages to utility companies rather than 911 unless it’s an emergency.

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AFTER THE STORM
❄️56. Walk carefully—ice may refreeze overnight.
❄️57. Check pipes for leaks as temperatures rise.
❄️58. Throw out refrigerated food if above 40°F for more than 4 hours.
❄️59. Avoid DIY electrical repairs around downed lines.
❄️60. Be patient—restoring power after ice can take several days.

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KEY REALITY FOR SOUTHERN ICE EVENTS
❄️A quarter inch of ice can bring scattered outages.
❄️Half an inch can cripple travel and power for days.
❄️Ice is more dangerous than snow for the Deep South

(I'm not sure the original author of this or I would tag/ give credit!)

11/27/2025

From all of us at Goodman Police Department, we would like to wish everybody a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

11/18/2025

2025 Christmas Toy Drive is in operation. Toy drop-off locations are at Goodman Dollar General and Goodman Fresh Way (Mini Mart). Please help us make this Christmas a good one for the kids in our community. Toy drive is from November 15-December 15. We cannot do this without your help!

11/16/2025

The Goodman Police Department is asking everybody to please pray for an officer in McDonald County who was injured today. Pray for him, his family, and his partners. Pray for strength and healing as well! Thank you!

11/01/2025

WE HAVE RAN OUT OF CANDY!!!!! I want to thank each and every parent and kiddo that came out tonight and got some candy. We loved the costumes!

Tomorrow, we are shifting gears and are getting ready for our first, hopefully annual, Operation Santa’s Helper Toy Drive! We had such an outpouring of support last Christmas for 7 wonderful kids and everybody that donated toys, clothes and items made a HUGE difference! So we have decided to spread the love out this year and hopefully be able to get enough toys that we can go around town and hand out toys close to Christmas time! More details to come on that, so stay tuned!

10/31/2025

Your Goodman Police Officers will be handing out candy and doing Compliance Checks tonight. If you would like to meet the brave officers of Goodman, come on by, 132 E. Main St. and say hello. We will be handing out candy until 10PM or until we run out! Look forward to seeing everybody and want to wish everyone a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!