Arkansas State Police

Not to be confused with Arkansas Highway Police.

Arkansas State Police
Common name	Arkansas State Police
Abbreviation	ASP
Agency overview
Formed	March 19, 1935 (1935-03-19)
Employees	976 (as of 2020)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Arkansas, USA
ASP Troop Map
Size	53,179 square miles (137,730 km2)
Population	2,834,797 (2007 est.)
Legal jurisdiction	Statewide
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Little Rock, Arkansas
Troopers	548 (as of 2020)
Civilian employees	428 (as of 2020)
Agency executive	Colonel Bill Bryant, Director
Parent agency	Arkansas Department of Public Safety
Website
www.dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police

The Arkansas State Police is a state police division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and the premier law enforcement agency in the State of Arkansas. The Arkansas State Police is responsible for enforcing motor vehicle laws, traffic laws, and criminal laws. The Arkansas State Police serves as an assisting agency to local law enforcement agencies within the State of Arkansas and has statewide authority to conduct law enforcement activities, criminal investigations, and crimes against children investigations.

History

The Aransas State Police was created on 19 March 1935 through Act 120 of 1935, which was passed by the Arkansas General Assembly and signed into law by the 30th Governor of Arkansas J.M. Futrell.

Upon the creation of the Arkansas State Police in 1935, the agency consisted of approximately thirteen Rangers who were charged with enforcing liquor laws and traffic laws. From its creation in 1935, the Arkansas State Police has been an assisting agency to local law enforcement agencies

State Police Commission

The Arkansas State Police Commission is made up of seven members, appointed by the Governor of Arkansas with the advise and consent of the Arkansas Senate for seven year terms. The commission is responsible for the overall control of the Arkansas State Police.

Current Commissioners:

• Chairwoman: Jane Christenson of Harrison, Arkansas
• Vice-Chair: Neff Basore of Bella Vista, Arkansas
• Secretary: Bill Benton of Heber Springs, Arkansas
• Member: Stephen Edwards of Marianna, Arkansas
• Member: Jeffery Teague of El Dorado, Arkansas
• Member: John Allison of Conway, Arkansas
• Member: Jim Hinkle of Conway, Arkansas

Organization

• Arkansas Governor - Asa Hutchinson
  • Arkansas Department of Public Safety Secretary - Jami Cook
    • Arkansas State Police Director - Colonel William "Bill" Bryant
      • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Tim K'Nuckles - Administrative Services
      • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Garner - Field Operations

• Administrative Services - Major Charles Hubbard
  • The Administrative Services consists of two of the Division's largest sections, recruiting and training, in addition, Human Resources services for the more than 900 State Police employees. The Arkansas State Police Recruiting Office collects the initial contact forms of all potential recruits and prepares the next generation of State Police Recruits who may enter the department's Training Academy. The training officers assigned to the division develop and teach both curriculum for new recruits as well as in-service training for incumbent Troopers.
    • Arkansas State Police Personnel
      • Employment
      • Office of Personnel Management
      • Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
      • Trooper Recruiters are always searching for the next generation of Arkansas State Troopers. If you're interested in a career among the ranks of Arkansas State Troopers and want to learn more about the job prerequisites, visit the Trooper Recruiting section.

Highway Patrol

• Highway Patrol - Major Forrest Marks - Commander Western Region
• Highway Patrol - Major Jason Aaron - Commander Eastern Region
  • The Highway Patrol Division is the uniformed branch of the Arkansas State Police. It is responsible for traffic supervision, traffic, and criminal law enforcement on the rural highways of Arkansas. The HPD also assist with other incidents to include riots, prison disturbances, labor related disturbances, and providing security at public events.
  • The Highway Patrol Division is divided into two regions both located at Arkansas State Police, One State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas:

Arkansas State Police - Highway Patrol

Troop	Station	Counties Covered
Troop A	Little Rock, Arkansas	Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline
Troop B	Newport, Arkansas	Cleburne, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Sharp, and White
Troop C	Jonesboro, Arkansas	Clay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph
Troop D	Forrest City, Arkansas	Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, and Woodruff
Troop E	Pine Bluff, Arkansas	Arkansas, Desha, Jefferson, and Lincoln
Troop F	Warren, Arkansas	Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Ouachita, and Union
Troop G	Hope, Arkansas	Columbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier
Troop H	Fort Smith, Arkansas	Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, and Sebastian
Troop I	Harrison, Arkansas	Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Stone
Troop J	Clarksville, Arkansas	Conway, Johnson, Perry, Pope, Van Buren, and Yell
Troop K	Hot Springs, Arkansas	Clark, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Pike, and Polk
Troop L	Lowell, Arkansas	Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington

Criminal Investigations

• Criminal Investigations - Major Mark Hollingsworth - Commander
  • Special Agents assigned to Criminal Investigations, investigate criminal cases initiated by both the Arkansas State Police and local law enforcement agencies.

Arkansas State Police - Criminal Investigations

Company	Station	Counties Covered
Company A	Little Rock, Arkansas	Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Lee, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, St. Francis, and Woodruff
Company B	Pine Bluff, Arkansas	Arkansas, Ashely, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, and Lincoln
Company C	Hope, Arkansas	Clark, Columbia, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Pike, Polk, and Sevier
Company D	Fort Smith, Arkansas	Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Madison, Scott, Sebastian, and Washington
Company E	Harrison, Arkansas	Baxter, Boone, Conway, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Marion, Newton, Perry, Pope, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren, and Yell
Company F	Jonesboro, Arkansas	Clay, Cleburne, |Craighead, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, Sharp,and White

Crimes Against Children

• Crimes Against Children - Major Jeffrey Drew - Commander
  • Crimes Against Children - Gary Glisson - Investigations Administrator
  • Crimes Against Children - Dan Mack - Hotline Administrator
  • Investigators assigned to the Crimes Against Children, investigate child maltreatment and criminal cases involving juveniles along with local law enforcement agencies.

Arkansas State Police - Crimes Against Children

Area	Station	Counties Covered
Area I	Lowell, Arkansas	Benton, Boone, and Carroll
Area II	Springdale, Arkansas	Washington, Madison, and Newton
Area III	Mountain View, Arkansas	Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Marion, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, and Stone
Area IV	Paragould, Arkansas	Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett
Area V	Fort Smith, Arkansas	Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Sebastian, and Yell
Area VI	Clinton, Arkansas	Conway, Faulkner, Garland, Perry, Saline, and Van Buren
Area VII	Searcy, Arkansas	Lee, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff
Area VIII	Little Rock, Arkansas	Pulaski County
Area IX	DeQueen, Arkansas	Clark, Columbia, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Pike, Polk, Scott, and Sevier
Area X	Stuttgart, Arkansas	Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Union

Fallen officers

Since its formation in 1935, 21 ASP troopers have been killed in the line of duty. The most common cause of line of duty deaths to date is automobile accidents.

Rank	Name	Date of Death	Cause of Death
Trooper	Sidney Pavatt	09-25-1948	Was fatally wounded outside a residence while searching for a burglary suspect.
Trooper	Ermon Cox	08-17-1958	Was fatally wounded while attempting to arrest a DWI suspect.
Sergeant	Elmer Bradshaw	12-11-1965	Was killed in an automobile accident while on duty.
Trooper	Harry Locke	09-24-1966	Was fatally injured in a vehicle crash.
Trooper	Allen Bufford	07-27-1969	Was fatally wounded during a highway violator traffic stop.
Trooper	Ron Brooks	02-27-1975	Was fatally wounded while apprehending three escapees.
Sergeant	Kelly Pigue	12-08-1977	Was fatally injured in a vehicle crash.
Sergeant	Glenn Bailey	09-05-1980	Was fatally wounded during a violator stop.
Trooper	William Rose, Jr.	12-28-1982	Was fatally injured in a vehicle crash.
Trooper	Louis Bryant	06-30-1984	Was fatally wounded during a violator stop.
Trooper	Robbie Klein	10-15-1984	Was fatally wounded during a search for two prison escapees.
Corporal	Phillip Ostermann	08-10-1985	Was killed in an aircraft accident while searching for marijuana fields.
Trooper	Michael Bassing	07-24-1986	Was fatally injured in a helicopter crash.
Trooper	Wilson Atkins, Jr.	07-03-1988	Was fatally injured after being struck by a passing vehicle during a violator stop.
Trooper	Clark Simpson	02-18-1989	Was fatally injured after his patrol car was struck from the rear following a violator stop.
Corporal	John Scarberough	09-02-1998	Was fatally injured when his patrol car was hit from the rear during a violator stop.
Captain	Tom Craig	12-04-2000	Was fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle while assisting the victims of an earlier traffic crash.
Trooper	Herbert Smith	02-14-2001	Died from injuries sustained in a vehicle crash as he responded to a child emergency call.
Trooper	Jimmie White	06-01-2002	Died from injuries sustained in the crash of his patrol motorcycle he was driving at the time of an escort involving the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels.
Corporal	Mark Carthron	09-12-2005	Died from injuries sustained the previous day when he was struck on Interstate 40 as he and other troopers attempted to stop a fugitive vehicle.
Sergeant	Richard LeBow	02-04-2008	Died from injuries sustained in a traffic crash while on patrol duty.

Rank structure

Title	Insignia	Description
Director (Colonel)		Director holds the Rank of Colonel, appointed by the Governor of Arkansas to be the professional head of the Department
Deputy Director (Lieutenant Colonel)		Deputy Director holds the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel, second-in-command of Department and second highest ranked commissioned officer in the Department.
Major		Responsible for serving as a Highway Patrol Regional Commander, as the Criminal Investigations Commander, as the Crimes Against Children Commander, or as the Administrative Services Division Commander
Captain		Responsible for serving as a Highway Patrol Troop Commander, Criminal Investigation Division Regional Commander or other upper-level administrative and managerial staff position.
Lieutenant		Responsible for serving as a Highway Patrol Troop Assistant Commander, Criminal Investigation Division Company Commander or supervising a specialized function with the State Police
Sergeant		First supervisory rank, responsible for overseeing and supervising Troopers and non-commissioned personnel in the performance of their duties
Corporal		Rank attained by Trooper First Class after completion of 7 years of service. May supervise Troopers in the performance of their duties in absence of a sergeant.
Trooper First Class		Rank attained by Trooper after completion of 4 1/2 years of service.
Trooper		Rank attained by Recruits upon successful completion of the training academy, responsible for field law enforcement patrol or specialized or technical law enforcement function.
Cadet		A Cadet is a new recruit, and is the rank held by all personnel while assigned as a student at the training academy. These personnel do not wear rank insignia.

Controversies

• In 1992, state troopers executed a search warrant without knocking and announcing themselves. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the action violated the Fourth Amendment in Wilson v. Arkansas.
• In 1993, several state troopers claimed that they assisted then Governor Bill Clinton to cover extramarital affairs in what became known as "Troopergate". No official state inquiry was performed.
• On March 7, 2006, trooper Larry P. Norman fatally shot Joseph Erin Hamley, an unarmed man with cerebral palsy as he lay on his back. On June 28, 2007, Norman pleaded guilty to negligent homicide based on the dashcam footage and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 30 days of community service, one year of probation, and a $1,000 fine. Norman served 54 days of his jail sentence. The Arkansas State Police settled a lawsuit on March 5, 2007 with the victim's family for one million dollars.

In popular culture

• The third season of HBO's True Detective depicted Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff as Arkansas State Police detectives.
• In the 1973 film White Lightning starring Burt Reynolds, the Arkansas State Police are seen pursuing Reynolds boot legging character, Gator McKlusky.

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Arkansas
• State police

State Troopers

• Milton Nicks
• Tommy F. Robinson
• Dwight Tosh
• Wayne Hays (fictional)

External links

• Arkansas State Police