Office of the Chief of police

Responsibilities

The Office of the Chief plans, coordinates, directs, and evaluates the activities of the department and provides all command functions for the agency. This includes special studies, research, budgeting, and complex staff assistance as they relate to the delivery of all police services.

The Office of the Chief of Police is comprised of the Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police, Office of Professional Standards, and the Public Information Officer.

Office of Professional Standards

Responsibilities

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department values a relationship of trust with the citizens it serves. To ensure concerns regarding ethics and integrity are properly investigated, the Department developed the Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Reporting directly to the Chief of Police, the OPS is designed to investigate concerns involving the:

Correction of Procedural Problems-The department is constantly seeking to improve its efficiency. Occasionally, administrative investigations disclose faulty procedures that would otherwise have gone undetected.

Protection of the Department-The department is often evaluated and judged by the conduct of its individual employees. It is imperative that the organization, as a whole, be free from public censure based on the misconduct of a few. The community must be confident that the department will fairly and honestly police its members.

Protection of the Employee-Employees must be protected against false allegations of misconduct. This can only be accomplished through a consistently thorough investigative process that ensures their rights are protected and all available evidence is appropriately collected.

Protection of the Public-The public has the right to receive fair, efficient, and impartial law enforcement. The department shall ensure this through the detection, investigation, and adjudication of employee misconduct.

Removal of Unfit Personnel-An employee who engages in serious acts of misconduct, or who has demonstrated he/she is unfit for the law enforcement profession, must be removed for the protection of the public, the Department, and other employees.

In addition, this office is responsible for applicant processing, as well as other issues directed by the Chief of Police. Depending on the nature or severity of the complaint, some investigations are referred to the employee’s immediate supervisor for investigation.

The Complaint Process

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department requires that all complaints against police officers be in writing and signed by the person making the complaint. Just as citizens who are arrested must be notified of the charges against them, police officers must be given copies of complaints before any disciplinary action may be taken. The person who claims to be aggrieved must make the complaint; other persons may give statements as witnesses.

Please note: Traffic ticket issues or differences of opinion between officers and citizens over the issuance of the traffic ticket will not be investigated unless there is a specific allegation of misconduct against members of the Department.

Complaints are classified by the type of complaint (Service or Personnel) and scope of complaint (Major or Minor). Service complaints are about the service or lack of service received from the Department. Generally, they are not directed toward a specific employee. Personnel complaints are about a specific employee’s performance or actions.

Personnel complaints are further classified as either Major or Minor by the Office of Professional Standards. Minor complaints are handled by the employee’s immediate supervisor. Major complaints are investigated by the Office of Professional Standards with assistance from the Criminal Investigation Division if the complaint is criminal in nature.

Unfounded Complaints

Complaints must be supported by sufficient evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence to sustain the complaint, the officer is notified and continues on duty.

Appeals

Just as citizens charged with criminal offenses can appeal a court’s decision, police officers are afforded the right to appeal the actions taken against them. The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department has established procedures for employees to file their appeals.

False Complaints

People who intentionally make false complaints or allegations violate Arkansas Code 5-54-122. Arkansas law provides punishment for an individual who makes a False Report to a Peace Officer that is material to a criminal investigation. The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department provides this information to avoid retaliation against police officers or department staff.

Responsibilities

The Public Information Office routinely disseminates information regarding the mission of the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, crime prevention efforts, Department-sponsored events, response to critical incidents, public safety initiatives and day-to-day operations.

Further Duties

Additionally, the PIO duties include:

• Liaison with all media outlets
• News Release creation and distribution
• Maintenance, content creation, and response on all Department social media sites
• Facilitation of media interview access to Department employees and/or assist in gaining access to police facilities and equipment
• Press conference coordination
• Staffing of Emergency Operations Center Public Information Officer position
• Annual meeting/survey with media representatives to resolve issues
• Requests for assistance by motion picture/television writers, producers, directors, etc.

Helpful Facts

• We do not speak for other agency cases.
• Official requests for reports are handled by our Records Management Services.
• By law, the Department can not release a photo of our officers without the officer’s consent.