2024 Summer Conference was an absolute blast! The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association conferences serve a dual purpose, allowing the Sheriffs to unwind while making valuable connections with vendors, as well as a multitude of training sessions and meetings. 

The first day began with the ASA Executive Board meeting where members take time to discuss legislation & current issues. Our board is a working board and is make up of nine Sheriffs from around the state. Jail Administrators met to discuss current issues happening within the jails and what type of training is needed. After the work is done we enjoyed an evening at the US Marshall Museum in Fort Smith.

Day two is 100% dedicated for the Vendors to visit with Sheriffs, Jail Administrators & staff. Vendors from all over with a variety of products that increase the efficiency for all things related to law enforcement. This is the day where great connections are made so that it is as simple a phone call to one of the vendors when in need of a specific product. At the luncheon on Monday the installation of the 2024-2025 ASA Executive Board members were sworn into their new positions. Sheriff Shane Jones of Pope County was sworn in as President by Honorable Circuit Judge Gordon McCain Jr, as well as the other board members. The newest board member Ron Nickols of Chicot County was sworn in as Legislative Chair. Our board is a working board so not only are they serving their counties as Sheriff, they are also dedicating their time to the association. The guest speaker was past president and retired Sheriff Tim Helder, he spoke on the importance of Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association and it provides opportunities to make connections which is most important because we are strongest when we stand together.  

Day three of the conference started with our tradition of the prayer breakfast. We want to thank Pastor Ed Saucier of Fort Smith Community Bible Church for joining us and sharing words of encouragement to our Sheriffs. After breakfast it was off to a full day of training. ASP Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar, Major Rhoads & staff with the AR State Police Criminal Investigation Division started the Sheriff’s training followed by Director Chris Chapman with CLEST. Jail Administrators got the chance to learn from Toni Handford with AR Sentencing Commission, Scott Handford with APBBLB Investigator, DeCarlos Johnson with ACT 309, & Paul Burnett with Towing & Recovery Board. One of our summer conference traditions is hosting a kid’s event so that while everyone else is in meetings they get to have some fun, this year we went to Parrot Island Waterpark.

Tuesday’s luncheon speaker was Senator Jonathan Dismang, he spoke on the growing issue with overcrowding as well as other issues the Sheriffs are currently facing. Another part of this luncheon was the Sheriffs’ Wives Drawing for a Stainless-Steel Kimber 45. Raffle Tickets for the drawing are sold before conference all the way up to the drawing. This year $3,959.14 was raised and all proceeds go to towards the Arkansas Sheriff’s Wives Scholarship Fund. The $500 Scholarships are for any current Sheriff or certified full-time Deputy’s child attending college; no child has ever been turned away.

After lunch it was off to more training, first was the joint meeting of the Senate & House, after that Representative Lee Johnson & Senator Missy Irvin led a public health/welfare/labor committee meeting, then Sheriffs and Jail Administrators split for separate training sessions. The Sheriffs had a variety of speakers which included Scott Handford with ARBBLB Investigator & Director Randy Murray, next was Director Theodore Brown with Arkansas Crime Lab, and ending the session was Director Dr. Cheryl May with Criminal Justice Institute. The Jail Administrators training included Haylie Hoffman with AR State Hospital/Treatment, then JaNan Thoman with Intake Decisions & Other Agencies or Authorities Hospital/Treatment. While these training sessions are going on the wives have their own event. We want to thank Rhonda Springer owner of Southpaw Sisters for bringing a Hat Bar for our Sheriffs’ Wives to make burnt felt hats, everyone had so much fun! With a long day of training we made sure to include some fun with a Shenandoah Concert in the form of a Luau. Everyone put on their best Hawaiian attire for a night of singing, dancing, and silly photos.

Summer Conference 2024 ended with the Sheriffs meeting with FBI Special Agent J.T. Coleman who spoke about reports on bomb threats and the Texas DPS Executive gave a briefing over boarder events; as well as a training for Jail Administrators with Executive Director Tate McCotter from the National Institute for Jail Operations teaching on the duty to intervene, handing of mental health inmates, & constitutional rights of inmates.