Hawthorn named Clark County Officer of the Year

George Hawthorn was named as Clark County’s Officer of the Year for 2023. Hawthorn, the constable of Caddo Township, was among law enforcement officers throughout the state who were honored Tuesday in Benton at a luncheon hosted by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

Hawthorn was nominated by Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson, who called the constable “an invaluable asset” to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, as well as to the county and its judicial system for his aptitude for helping people. “He’s the first to volunteer his time to visit and help when we have families in need,” Watson told arkadelphian.com. “He is very involved in not only his work but the boards he’s involved with, the community and his church.”

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s event, Griffin issued the following statement:

“The Officer of the Year Awards honor the bravery, service and unwavering commitment to others that law enforcement officers provide Arkansans every day through their noble and often thankless work.

“Each of our state, regional and county honorees display the very best of law enforcement. All Arkansans are indebted to our police for their steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe—especially those we honor today who paid the ultimate price this year.”

Honorees are officers from each of the state’s 75 counties, five regional winners, one recipient of the Dwayne Yarbrough Distinguished Service Award, four valor tributes (officers who died in the line of duty) and a pair of co-statewide Officers of the Year. This year’s honorees from neighboring counties were:

Southwest Region: Sgt. Dusty Townsend, Hope Police Department

Dallas County: Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler Jr., Arkansas State Police

Hot Spring County: Lt. Justin Buttrum and Cpl. Barry Efird, Arkansas Department of Corrections

Montgomery County: Chief Deputy Mike May, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Nevada County: Chief Ann Jordan, Prescott Police Department

Ouachita County: Assistant Chief Cortney Parker, Camden Police Department

Pike County: Lt. Jason McDonald, Pike County Sheriff’s Office

This year’s state Officers of the Year are Special Agent Matt Foster and Senior Corporal David Smothers of the Arkansas State Police, who were responsible for saving a victim of human trafficking and bringing her trafficker to justice. “Their courage, discernment and compassion led to a life being saved from a horrible circumstance,” Griffin said.