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Arkansas State Police

State police agency in Arkansas, U.S.


Summary

State police agency in Arkansas, U.S.

FieldValue
agencynameArkansas State Police
commonnameArkansas State Police
abbreviationASP
patchASPPatch.png
patchcaptionPatch
logoArkansas State Police logo.PNG
logocaptionLogo
badgeAR - State Police Badge.jpg
badgecaptionBadge
formed
employees949 (as of July 2024)
countryUnited States
countryabbrUSA
divtypeState
divnameArkansas
mapARHP Troop Map.jpg
sizearea53179 sqmi
sizepopulation2,834,797 (2007 est.)
legalpersonalityGovernment agency
legaljurisArkansas
governingbodyGovernment of Arkansas
policeYes
localYes
headquartersLittle Rock, Arkansas
sworntypeState Troopers
sworn586 (authorized, as of 2022)
unsworntypeCivilian
unsworn384 (as of Oct 2023)
chief1nameMike Hagar
chief1positionDPS Secretary
chief2nameColonel Mike Hagar
chief2positionDirector
parentagencyArkansas Department of Public Safety
stationtypeTroop
stations12
person1nameWayne Hays (fictional)
person2nameTommy F. Robinson
person3nameDwight Tosh
website

The Arkansas State Police is a state police division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and 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 Arkansas 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 advice 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:

  • Chairman: Jim Hinkle of Conway, Arkansas
  • Vice-chair: Ken Reeves of Harrison, Arkansas
  • Secretary: Neff Basore of Bella Vista, Arkansas
  • Member: Mike Akin of Monticello, Arkansas
  • Member: Steve Edwards of Marianna, Arkansas
  • Member: Jeffery Teague of Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Member: John Allison of Conway, Arkansas

Organization

  • Arkansas Governor - Sarah Huckabee Sanders

    • Arkansas Department of Public Safety Secretary - Mike Hagar
      • Arkansas State Police Director - Colonel Mike Hagar
        • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Mike Kennedy - Administrative Services
        • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Jason Aaron - Field Operations
  • Administrative Services - Major Roby Rhoads

    • 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

Highway Patrol

The Highway Patrol Division is the uniformed division of the Arkansas State Police. It is headquartered at One State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas.

TroopStationCounties CoveredTroop ATroop BTroop CTroop DTroop ETroop FTroop GTroop HTroop ITroop JTroop KTroop L
Little Rock, ArkansasFaulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline
Newport, ArkansasCleburne, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Sharp, and White
Jonesboro, ArkansasClay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph
Forrest City, ArkansasCrittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, and Woodruff
Pine Bluff, ArkansasArkansas, Desha, Jefferson, and Lincoln
Warren, ArkansasAshley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Ouachita, and Union
Hope, ArkansasColumbia, Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier
Fort Smith, ArkansasCrawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, and Sebastian
Harrison, ArkansasBaxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Stone
Clarksville, ArkansasConway, Johnson, Perry, Pope, Van Buren, and Yell
Hot Springs, ArkansasClark, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Pike, and Polk
Lowell, ArkansasBenton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington

Criminal Investigations

  • Criminal Investigations - Major Stacie Rhoads - Commander
    • Special Agents assigned to Criminal Investigations, investigate criminal cases initiated by both the Arkansas State Police and local law enforcement agencies.
CompanyStationCounties CoveredCompany ACompany BCompany CCompany DCompany ECompany F
Little Rock, ArkansasCrittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Lee, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, St. Francis, and Woodruff
Pine Bluff, ArkansasArkansas, Ashely, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, and Lincoln
Hope, ArkansasClark, Columbia, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Pike, Polk, and Sevier
Fort Smith, ArkansasBenton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Madison, Scott, Sebastian, and Washington
Harrison, ArkansasBaxter, Boone, Conway, Fulton, Izard, Johnson, Marion, Newton, Perry, Pope, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren, and Yell
Jonesboro, ArkansasClay, 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 - Kalika Rogers - 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.
AreaStationCounties CoveredArea IArea IIArea IIIArea IVArea VArea VIArea VIIArea VIIIArea IXArea X
Lowell, ArkansasBenton, Boone, and Carroll
Springdale, ArkansasWashington, Madison, and Newton
Mountain View, ArkansasBaxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Marion, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, and Stone
Paragould, ArkansasClay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett
Fort Smith, ArkansasCrawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Sebastian, and Yell
Clinton, ArkansasConway, Faulkner, Garland, Perry, Saline, and Van Buren
Searcy, ArkansasLee, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff
Little Rock, ArkansasPulaski County
DeQueen, ArkansasClark, Columbia, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Pike, Polk, Scott, and Sevier
Stuttgart, ArkansasArkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Ouachita, and Union

Rank structure

TitleInsigniaDescription
Director (Colonel)[[File:US-O6 insignia.svgcenter50px]]Director holds the Rank of Colonel, appointed by the Governor of Arkansas to be the professional head of the Department
Deputy Director (Lieutenant Colonel)[[File:US-O5 insignia.svgcenter27px]]Deputy Director holds the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel, second-in-command of department and second highest ranked commissioned officer in the department.
Major[[File:US-O4 insignia.svgcenter27px]]A Major is 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 of the Highway Patrol
Captain[[File:US-O3 insignia.svgcenter32px]]A Captain is responsible for serving as a Highway Patrol Troop Commander, Criminal Investigation Division Regional Commander or other upper-level administrative and managerial staff position.
Lieutenant[[File:US-OF1A.svgcenter12px]]A Lieutenant is 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[[File:Army-USA-OR-05 (Army greens).svgcenter50px]]A Sergeant holds First supervisory rank, responsible for overseeing and supervising Troopers and non-commissioned personnel in the performance of their duties
Corporal[[File:Army-USA-OR-04a (Army greens).svgcenter50px]]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[[File:Army-USA-OR-02 (Army greens).svgcenter50px]]Rank attained by Trooper after completion of years of service.
Trooper[[File:Blank - Spacer.pngcenter35px]]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[[File:Blank - Spacer.pngcenter35px]]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.

Incidents

  • 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 July 2020, Senior Cpl. Rodney Dunn performed a PIT maneuver against a pregnant woman during a traffic stop. Shortly thereafter, the woman filed a lawsuit against the department, claiming that she was in the process of pulling over, and that the actions of Dunn were reckless and nearly killed her and her unborn child. The Arkansas State Police has defended the trooper's actions and argue neither he nor the department bear any responsibility for the incident. The Arkansas State Police and the woman have settled the lawsuit in November 2021.

Notables

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

References

References

  1. [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/csllea04.pdf USDOJ Statistics] {{webarchive. link. (2008-11-20)
  2. "2007 Population Estimates".
  3. (19 January 2022). "Arkansas State Police needs starting salary boost to keep officers, agency director tells lawmakers | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette".
  4. Arkansas Code Annotated § 12-8-106
  5. [https://dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police/directors-office/asp-history/ Arkansas State Police Website]
  6. [https://dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police/directors-office/asp-commission/ Arkansas State Police Commissioners]
  7. "Arkansas Governor SHS".
  8. "Get to Know the Secretary".
  9. "Director".
  10. "Deputy Director".
  11. "Administrative Services".
  12. "Employment".
  13. "Personnel".
  14. (2020). "Arkansas State Police Recruitment Plan - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy".
  15. "Crimes Against Children".
  16. [https://www.oyez.org/cases/1994/94-5707 Oyez article about the case]
  17. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-21-mn-4179-story.html "Troopers Say Clinton Sought Silence on Personal Affairs"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', December 21, 1993.
  18. "Officers Mistakenly Shoot Young Man With Disabilities As He Lay On His Back".
  19. (28 June 2007). "Former trooper sentenced for shooting of disabled Springdale man". Arkansas Online.
  20. "Ex-Trooper Larry Norman Released From Jail".
  21. "Inclusion Daily Express -- State Police Agrees To Pay $1 Million To Erin Hamley's Estate".
  22. (2021-06-04). "FOX 16 Investigates: Woman files lawsuit hoping for policy change surrounding PIT maneuvers".
  23. (2021-11-19). "Arkansas State Police settles PIT maneuver lawsuit which injured pregnant woman".
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