Lt. Beau Bishop is pictured with Arkadelphia Fire Department’s accelerant-detecting dog, Ike. | City of Arkadelphia photo
Special to arkadelphian.com
ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — The Arkadelphia Fire Department (AFD) is growing by four paws.
In partnership with the Arkadelphia Police Department (APD), Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and Clark County Prosecutor and Juvenile Office, AFD is excited to announce the addition of an accelerant detection and tracking canine to its team in March 2025.
K9 “Ike” is a two-year-old Labrador Retriever trained in accelerant detection and tracking. He will live and work with his handler, Lt. Beau Bishop.
“This is something that I have wanted to do for a really long time,” Bishop said. “These dogs can be a vital resource to our emergency services in so many different ways. I am beyond grateful to all of the community sponsors who made this a reality.”
Accelerant detection canines, like K9 Ike, are used in fire investigations to help determine if arson or foul play was involved. K9 Ike is also trained to track missing persons. This dual-purpose role is unique, and will benefit AFD, APD, and surrounding agencies.
“We look forward to bringing K9 Ike home,” AFD Fire Chief Andy Neel said. “This is a huge commitment for Lieutenant Bishop and AFD, but he will be an invaluable member of our team. I am truly excited to see the positive impact they have on our community.”
“As first responders, we are always looking for creative and innovate ways to protect and serve the citizens of Arkadelphia and Clark County,” APD Police Chief Jason Jackson said. “K9 Ike is an example of our commitment to providing the best resources for our residents.”
The total cost for an accelerant detection canine is approximately $50,000. This includes the cost of the dog, its training, and equipment needed.
“There’s the cost of the dog, but we also have to account for the vehicle needed to transport the dog, protection equipment, annual recertification costs, and so on,” Bishop said. “K9 Ike would not have been possible without the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, and our incredible community partners.”
The City of Arkadelphia extends its warmest gratitude to the following community partners for supporting this project:
• Patterson Federal Credit Union
• Crye Leike Pro Elite Realty
• R&T Enterprises
• Clark County Judge Troy Tucker
• Laura Eckert–Clark County Farm Bureau
• The Ross Foundation
• Beene’s Towing & Recovery
• Southern Bancorp
• Two Rivers Credit Union
• Citizens Bank
• Walmart–Arkadelphia
• Hardman Lumber
“Once again, our great community has gone above and beyond,” Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson said. “We are blessed to live in a community where all of these agencies can put a plan together like this, and have a tool that will assist everyone in serving the community. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is proud to support this project and cannot wait to welcome K9 Ike home!”
Bishop is currently in Indianapolis training with K9 Ike. The pair will return to Arkadelphia March 14 and begin serving the community on March 15.
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