Rutledge announces law enforcement officers of the year for 2021
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge hosted the 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards and recognition luncheon Tuesday at the Benton Event Center, where she announced Lonoke Police Officer Cody Carpenter, Lonoke Police Officer Brandon Ray and Arkansas State Police Corporal Mark Blackerby as the Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.
Local County Officers of the Year included Pope County Sheriff’s Deputy Louis Hardy, and Chief Rick Padgett of the Danville Police Department.
Carpenter, Ray and Blackerby were named Officers of the Year for their efforts to apprehend a suspect accused of kidnapping a girl from North Carolina. Their actions saved the child and safely reunited her with her family.
“The dedication of Officer Carpenter, Officer Ray and Corporal Blackerby saved a young girl from a kidnapper,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Arkansas is fortunate to have officers who put their lives on the line to protect us. It is an honor to not only recognize Officer Carpenter, Officer Ray and Corporal Blackerby, but also the regional and county winners and to thank the many brave men and women in blue who sacrifice so much to protect our communities.”
On February 20, 2021, the Lonoke Police Department responded to a call to investigate an out-of-state vehicle suspected to be involved in a North Carolina kidnapping.
Carpenter and Ray were the first officers on scene and upon contact with the suspect, the suspect fired at Carpenter who was shot multiple times. Ray immediately returned fire and the suspect fled the scene in his vehicle. Ray gave the information of the fleeing suspect over the radio and began life saving aid to Carpenter.
Blackerby heard the radio traffic and observed the vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed.
Blackerby pursued the suspect to a dead end road where the suspect’s vehicle became stuck behind a building. Blackerby waited for back up before approaching the vehicle.
He observed the young girl running through a field and, accompanied by his K-9 partner, Blackerby gave commands for her to stop and come towards him. She was later identified as the missing girl from North Carolina and was safely transported back to her family. The suspect was found in his vehicle with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound. Carpenter suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was airlifted to a local hospital for emergency medical care. He has made a full recovery and has returned to full duty.
Carpenter, Ray and Blackerby were nominated by Lonoke Police Chief Matt Edwards and Arkansas State Police Sergeant Chuck Lewis.
In a statement, Chief Edwards said, “Thanks to the bravery of Officer Cody Carpenter, Officer Brandon Ray, Arkansas State Policer Trooper Mark Blackerby and all assisting agencies, this 14-year-old girl was safely returned to her family in Denton, North Carolina.”
The other Regional Officers of the Year include Harrison Police Department Detective Corporal Ted Schaeffer from the Northwest Region for his work saving a minor from a child predator.
There was a tie in the Northeast Region between Arkansas Highway Patrol First Lieutenant Scott Fraley (retired) for being one of the most active Highway Police Officers in his 29 years of drug interdiction enforcement and Arkansas State Police Corporal Freddy Ware for his effort in community policing between youth and law enforcement.
In the Southeast Region, Arkansas Department of Corrections Agent Christopher Studdard is honored for his work tracking an inmate who escaped custody. In the Southwest Region, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Officer Jake Stanford is recognized for his work saving a child from swift current in the Buffalo River.
Rutledge also presented the Valor Tributes, which is given in honor of members of the law enforcement community who tragically lost their lives while in the line of duty and to COVID19 in 2021. This year’s tributes were presented to Officer Kevin Apple, Pea Ridge Police Department; Deputy Harry “Andy” Buschmann, Independence County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Christopher Cummins, Bella Vista Police Department; Lieutenant Hasain El-Amin, Arkansas State Hospital Department of Public Safety; Sergeant Rick Entmeier, Fort Smith Police Department; Lieutenant James Guynes, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent Gregory Holland, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services; Detention Deputy Chris Mayhorn, Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office; Sergeant Chandler Moore, Arkansas Highway Patrol; Deputy James Morgan, Baxter County Sheriff’s Office; Corporal Jeff Neel, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Deputy Joshua Pierson, Benton County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Frank Ramirez, Jr., Independence County Sheriff’s Office; and
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wounds and was airlifted to a local hospital for emergency medical care. He has made a full recovery and has returned to full duty.
Carpenter, Ray and Blackerby were nominated by Lonoke Police Chief Matt Edwards and Arkansas State Police Sergeant Chuck Lewis.
In a statement, Chief Edwards said, “Thanks to the bravery of Officer Cody Carpenter, Officer Brandon Ray, Arkansas State Policer Trooper Mark Blackerby and all assisting agencies, this 14-year-old girl was safely returned to her family in Denton, North Carolina.”
The other Regional Officers of the Year include Harrison Police Department Detective Corporal Ted Schaeffer from the Northwest Region for his work saving a minor from a child predator.
There was a tie in the Northeast Region between Arkansas Highway Patrol First Lieutenant Scott Fraley (retired) for being one of the most active Highway Police Officers in his 29 years of drug interdiction enforcement and Arkansas State Police Corporal Freddy Ware for his effort in community policing between youth and law enforcement.
In the Southeast Region, Arkansas Department of Corrections Agent Christopher Studdard is honored for his work tracking an inmate who escaped custody.
In the Southwest Region, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Officer Jake Stanford is recognized for his work saving a child from swift current in the Buffalo River.
Rutledge also presented the Valor Tributes, which is given in honor of members of the law enforcement community who tragically lost their lives while in the line of duty and to COVID19 in 2021. This year’s tributes were presented to Officer Kevin Apple, Pea Ridge Police Department; Deputy Harry “Andy” Buschmann, Independence County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Christopher Cummins, Bella Vista Police Department; Lieutenant Hasain El-Amin, Arkansas State Hospital Department of Public Safety; Sergeant Rick Entmeier, Fort Smith Police Department; Lieutenant James Guynes, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent Gregory Holland, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services; Detention Deputy Chris Mayhorn, Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office; Sergeant Chandler Moore, Arkansas Highway Patrol; Deputy James Morgan, Baxter County Sheriff’s Office; Corporal Jeff Neel, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Deputy Joshua Pierson, Benton County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Frank Ramirez, Jr., Independence County Sheriff’s Office; and Sergeant A.C. Simpson, Jr., Drew County Sheriff’s Office.
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BROOKLAND — A woman who was found dead in Brookland on Friday morning has been identified as Jennifer Emery, 44, of Jonesboro, according to Justin Rolland, chief deputy with the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Rolland, Emery’s body was found in a ditch off of U.S. 49B in Brookland. Craighead County sheriff’s deputies and Brookland police are investigating.
The body was seen by a passing motorist about 100 yards south of a church near Arkansas 230. Her vehicle was found in the parking lot of the church, Rolland said.
The woman’s body has been sent to the State Crime Lab in Little Rock, according to Rolland, who said it might be a while before cause of death is determined.
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Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday at his weekly briefing that he has launched a reading initiative program to strengthen vocabulary and reading skills for children who have not yet started school.
The “10 Minutes Matter Reading Campaign” will be lead by the Department of Human Services in cooperation with the Department of Education and asks parents to find 10 minutes out of their day to read ageappropriate books with their preschool-age children every day.
“As part of my effort to strengthen Arkansas families, I reflect back on my time as parent of young children and one of the joys I had was reading to them before they started to school,” Hutchinson said.
