From the Arkansas Department of Public Safety
The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) convened October 13–14, 2026, for its October meeting and hearings at Arkansas State Police Administrative Headquarters in Little Rock.
During the proceedings, Commissioners considered matters involving the certification and professional conduct of law enforcement officers from agencies across the state. Cases presented before the Commission included alleged violations of state law, agency policies, and professional standards expected of certified law enforcement officers in Arkansas.
In addition to contested and uncontested hearings, the Commission considered agenda requests, including extensions, recertification requests, requests to withdraw decertification proceedings, establishment and reactivation of law enforcement agencies, and recommendations to determine whether sufficient grounds existed for certain decertification matters to proceed to a formal hearing.
A summary of actions taken by the Commission during the October meeting and hearings is provided below.
Contested Hearings – October 13:
- Terryice Hewing, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office – Request for continuance denied; decertified by unanimous vote
- Hollie Whitlock, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Christopher Schmeckenbecher, Springdale Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Emil Iverson, Mountain Home Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Anquion Williams, West Memphis Police Department – Withdrawn
Contested Hearings – October 14:
- Michael D’Agostino, Fort Smith Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Rodrigo Roque, Fort Smith Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Daniel Nacalaban, Fort Smith Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Tyrus Harris, Little Rock Police Department – Decertified by unanimous vote
- Octavian Sims, Pine Bluff Police Department – Withdrawn
- Christopher Miller – Request for decertification by the Cross County Sheriff’s Office – Denied by unanimous vote
Requests for Extensions Under CLEST Rule 1002:
- Jacqulyn Willis, Stamps Police Department – Denied
- Tyler Scott, Brinkley Police Department – Approved
- Dakota Hattaway, Garland County Sheriff’s Office – Approved
- Logan Johnson, Forrest City Police Department – Approved
Other Agency and Certification Requests:
- City of Wabbaseka – Request to reactivate the Wabbaseka Police Department under ACA § 12-9-118 – Approved
- Western Yell County School District – Request to establish a police department under Act 629 of 2019 – Approved
Requests to Withdraw Decertification Proceedings:
- Octavian Sims, Pine Bluff Police Department – Approved
- Josh Kelley, Dardanelle Police Department – Denied
- Anquion Williams, West Memphis Police Department – Approved
Requests for Recertification Under CLEST Rule 1034:
- Luke Roe – Denied
- DeQuante Body – Denied
- Jacob Dane – Withdrawn
The Standards Division also requested the Commission to address compliance issues involving the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. This matter was resolved by the agency.
The Following Matters Were Voted to Proceed to a Hearing:
- Brooke Cole, Prairie County Sheriff’s Office
- Bo Hunt, Prairie County Sheriff’s Office
- Cody Oliver, Maumelle Police Department
- Miguel Romero, Batesville Police Department
- Oscar Salas, Batesville Police Department
- Blake Hampton, Little Rock Police Department
- Zachary Craig, Smackover Police Department
- Jeremy Wheelis, Jonesboro Police Department
- Christopher Jefferson, Jonesboro Police Department
- Kent Childers, Arkansas County Sheriff’s Office
- Lugene Boyd, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- William Kelley, Fairfield Bay Police Department
- LeRon Foreman, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office
- Edgar Martinez, Centerton Police Department
- Alex Thrower, Pine Bluff Police Department
- Michael Davis, Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office
- Kyle Dishman, Little Rock Police Department
- Maurica Bennett, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
- Sean Stroud, Benton Police Department
- Donald McCullough, West Fork Police Department
- Zac Brown, Cabot Police Department
- Bradley Pitts, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Requests to Proceed to a Hearing That Were Denied:
- Robbie McCain, Lonoke County Sheriff’s Department – Request denied
- Neil Brasse, White Hall Police Department – Request denied
The decertification recommendation involving former Hackett Police Department Officer Levi Thomas was deferred until the related Circuit Court case is resolved.
The Commission unanimously voted to approve consented matters involving:
- Jason Bullock – Garland County Sheriff’s Office
- Jimmy Bruce – Marmaduke Police Department
- Lizeth Cervantes – Bentonville Police Department
- Joshua Waldrum – Prescott Police Department
- Justin Smith – Blytheville Police Department