Arkansas State Police

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[6]

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:[7]

• 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

• Arkansas Governor - Asa Hutchinson[8]
  • Arkansas Department of Public Safety Secretary - Jami Cook[9]
    • Arkansas State Police Director - Colonel William "Bill" Bryant[10]
      • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Tim K'Nuckles[11] - Administrative Services
      • Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Garner[11] - Field Operations

• Administrative Services - Major Charles Hubbard[12]
  • 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.[12]
    • Arkansas State Police Personnel[12]
      • Employment[13]
      • Office of Personnel Management[14]
      • Equal Employment Opportunity Policy[15]
      • 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[16] section.

• 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.[19]
• In 1993, several state troopers claimed that they assisted then Governor Bill Clinton to cover extramarital affairs in what became known as "Troopergate".[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] Norman served 54 days of his jail sentence.[23] The Arkansas State Police settled a lawsuit on March 5, 2007 with the victim's family for one million dollars.[24]

• 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.

• List of law enforcement agencies in Arkansas
• State police

State Troopers

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

• Arkansas State Police