NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today hosted the annual awards and recognition luncheon at the 2016 Law Enforcement Summit at Camp Robinson where she announced Little Rock Police Officer Shawn Bakr is the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Nearly 600 officers from across the State attended the summit, which is in its 14th year.
Bakr was also recognized as the Central Region Outstanding Officer for his response while working off-duty at Red Lobster in January when three individuals, two of them armed, came into the restaurant and threatened employees. Bakr was shot in the shoulder and returned fire before two of the suspects fled. Bakr followed them in pursuit. He then returned to the restaurant to make sure there were no other suspects and to tend to anyone injured.
“Officer Bakr is an outstanding example of the bravery, courage, and selflessness that makes the men and women in blue such remarkable public servants,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “His quick action helped resolve a threatening situation and likely saved countless lives. I am honored to recognize Officer Bakr for his heroic actions, as well as all of our regional winners and each outstanding officer in Arkansas’s 75 counties. Their commitment to protecting their communities and neighbors should make us all proud and thankful.”
The other Regional Officers of the Year included: Deputy Shawn Stephens, Independence County Sheriff’s Office, and Sgt. Terry Treadway, Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, Northeast Region; Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck, Northwest Region; Trooper Dallas Taylor, Arkansas State Police, Southeast Region; and Officer Brent Scrimshire, Hot Springs Police Department, Southwest Region.
A list of the outstanding officer winners from each county can be found at the conclusion of this release.
Rutledge also presented VALOR tributes to those in the law enforcement community who tragically lost their lives while in the line of duty this past year. These tributes were presented to the spouses of Officer Robert Aaron Barker, McCrory Police Department, and Cpl. Bill Cooper, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
Rutledge gave special recognition to those in law enforcement leadership who have passed away this year, including Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Ronnie Baldwin, Drew County Chief Deputy Robin Hood, Berryville Police Chief David Muniz and founder of the University of Arkansas Police Department, Larry Slamons.
Before today’s luncheon, the summit’s keynote address was offered by Lt. Brad Toms of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department who has been one of the central decision makers at the center of two major incidents that captured the world’s attention. Toms discussed lessons learned from the 2013 spate of violence against the California law enforcement community perpetrated by disgruntled former Los Angeles Police Officer Christopher Dorner and the subsequent manhunt. He also discussed how those lessons were applied in 2015 when responding to a mass shooting terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino.
The two-day summit included breakout sessions on metal theft and cyber crime investigations taught by agents with the Attorney General’s Special Investigations Division and offered sessions on the Arkansas Naloxone Access Act of 2015, investigating domestic violence cases and autism safety and awareness training.
Attendees also learned more about human trafficking investigations from the Maryland State Police and FBI and the challenges the State of Colorado faced with the legalization of recreational cannabis from the Denver Police Department.
Rutledge concluded the summit by moderating a law enforcement leadership panel. Panelists included Matthew Barden, Drug Enforcement Administration assistant special agent in charge, Little Rock District Office; Col. Bill Bryant, Arkansas State Police director; Jeff Crow, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission director; Scott Montgomery, Perry County sheriff; Diane Upchurch, FBI special agent in charge, Little Rock Division; and Chief J.R. Wilson, Hope Police Department.
County Officers of the Year
Central Region
Faulkner County
Officer Johnny Sowell
20th Judicial District Task Force
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Grant County
Deputy Tim Preator
Grant County Sheriff’s Office
Jefferson County
Special Agent Oscar Bullard and Special Agent Huston Talley
Arkansas State Police
Lonoke County
Officer Joshua Chaplin
Austin Police Department
Perry County
Corporal Jeremy Bishop and Corporal Robert Stout
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Pulaski County
Officer Shawn Bakr
Little Rock Police Department
Saline County
Corporal Jeff Plouch
Arkansas State Police
Northeast Region
Baxter County
Corporal David Small
Arkansas State Police
Clay County
Sheriff Terry Miller
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Cleburne County
Sergeant David Bryant
Greers Ferry Police Department
Craighead County
Special Agent Adam Cornwell
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Crittenden County
Detective Freddy Williams
Marion Police Department
Cross County
Captain Jeffrey Stewart
Wynne Police Department
Fulton County
Chief Shad Overman
Salem Police Department
Greene County
Deputy Ken Womack
Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Independence County
Deputy Shawn Stephens
Independence County Sheriff’s Office
Izard County
Deputy Matt Churchwell
Izard County Sheriff’s Office
Jackson County
Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford
Newport Police Department
Lawrence County
Deputy Justin Dixon
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Mississippi County
Sergeant Terry Treadway
Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office
Poinsett County
Chief Tony Turner
Tyronza Police Department
Randolph County
Officer Brian Tillman
Pocahontas Police Department
Sharp County
Special Agent Wendall Jines
Arkansas State Police
St. Francis County
Detective Preston Gracey
Forrest City Police Department
Stone County
Corporal Dennis Simons
Arkansas State Police
White County
Corporal Tony Bowman
Arkansas State Police
Woodruff County
Patrolman Jared Williamson
McCrory Police Department
Northwest Region
Benton County
Captain Tim Cook
Bella Vista Police Department
Boone County
Chief James “Jim” Thomas
Bergman Police Department
Carroll County
School Resource Officer Craig Hicks
Berryville Police Department
Conway County
School Resource Officer Phil Blaylock
Morrilton Police Department
Crawford County
Chief Russell White
Alma Police Department
Franklin County
School Resource Officer Tim Culver
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Johnson County
Corporal Jacob Shook
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
Logan County
Wildlife Officer Scott Basham
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Madison County
Captain Clay Rowland
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Marion County
Assistant Chief Dusty Smith
Flippin Police Department
Newton County
Chief James “Buckie” Thomas
Jasper Police Department
Pope County
Detective Quinn Jones
Russellville Police Department
Searcy County
Chief Deputy Eric Owens
Searcy County Sheriff’s Office
Sebastian County
Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck
Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office
Van Buren County
Patrolman Donald Crispell
Fairfield Bay Police Department
Washington County
Sergeant Oscar Henson
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Yell County
Deputy John Foster
Yell County Sheriff’s Office
Southeast Region
Arkansas County
Chief Ken Dempsey
Gillett Police Department
Ashley County
School Resource Officer Robert Black
Crossett Police Department
Bradley County
Deputy Kevin Black
Bradley County Sheriff’s Office
Calhoun County
School Resource Officer Terry Clark
Hampton Police Department
Chicot County
Corporal Keith Cardin
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Cleveland County
Chief Josh Bolland
Rison Police Department
Desha County
Patrolman Darren McAdoo
McGehee Police Department
Drew County
Trooper Caleb Pevehouse
Arkansas State Police
Lee County
Lieutenant Ocie Banks
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Lincoln County
Deputy James Virden
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Monroe County
Trooper Rodney Davenport
Arkansas State Police
Phillips County
Chief Vincent Bell
Marvell Police Department
Prairie County
Trooper Dallas Taylor
Arkansas State Police
Union County
Lieutenant Steven Jerry
Union County Sheriff’s Office
Southwest Region
Clark County
Marshal Don Childres
Gurdon City Marshal’s Office
Columbia County
Deputy Brian Williams
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
Dallas County
Sheriff Stan McGahee
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Garland County
Officer Brent Scrimshire
Hot Springs Police Department
Hempstead County
(nominated together)
Deputy Jerry Crider
Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Jennifer Ghormley
Hope Police Department
Officer Dennis Hovarter
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Hot Spring County
Corporal Christopher Savage and K9 Luky
Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office
Howard County
Deputy Todd Tallant
Howard County Sheriff’s Office
Lafayette County
Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office
Little River County
Corporal Blake Broomfield
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Miller County
Corporal Kristi Bennett
Texarkana Police Department
Montgomery County
Investigator Elena Cannon
Office of Prosecuting Attorney, 18th West Judicial District
Nevada County
Sheriff Danny Martin
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
Ouachita County
Instructor Erin Smelser
Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy
Pike County
Chief Deputy David Shelby
Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Polk County
Officer Will Strain
Arkansas State Parks
Scott County
Wildlife Officer Mac Davis
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Sevier County
Wildlife Officer Bernie Soliz
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
