Law Enforcement - 91ԭ��

91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy Graduates 54th Class

Claire Fisher — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:42:49 +0000

On Thursday, April 9, Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) held the Spring 2026 graduation ceremony for Class 2026-A on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. The graduating class was composed of 33 officers from 20 different agencies and completed 608 hours of training.

The recruits and their families were welcomed by BRTC President Martin Eggensperger, Vice President of Academic Affairs Brad Baine, and LETA Director Jared Bassham at the start of the ceremony. George Vaughn of the Paragould Police Department, class spokesperson, followed Bassham and left the class with words of encouragement. Director of the University of Arkansas System Criminal Justice Institute Alicia Corder was the guest speaker for the ceremony.

The United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was presented to Joshua Hutchinson of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office. Timothy Delmundo of the Jonesboro Police Department was awarded the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy Servant Leadership Award. The Liberty Hill Outfitters Law Enforcement Scholarship was awarded to Austin (AJ) Smith of the Mammoth Spring Police Department.

91ԭ�� LETA faculty recognized and awarded the top recruits from Class 2026-A. Austin (AJ) Smith of the Mammoth Spring Police Department was named Top Overall, which is earned by having the overall highest average in the areas of academics, firearms, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course), and physical fitness. Dalton Hooker of the Cave City Police Department earned second overall. George Vaughn of the Paragould Police Department earned third.

The 2026-A class earned an average of 92.28%. Top Academic Awards went to Dalton Hooker of the Cave City Police Department, 1st; Austin (AJ) Smith of the Mammoth Spring Police Department, 2nd; and George Vaughn of the Paragould Police Department, 3rd.

Nine LETA recruits scored a perfect 100 on their firearms training. After competing to break the tie, three recruits were awarded first place. First place winners were Gage Eades of the Paragould Police Department, Joshua Hutchinson of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, and Louis Stephens of the West Memphis Police Department. Wyatt Minyard of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office earned 2nd place, and Dalton Hooker of the Cave City Police Department earned 3rd.

Top Physical Training Awards for the women’s division went to Alex Williams-Wooten of the West Memphis Police Department, 1st; Taylor Fisher of the West Memphis Police Department, 2nd; and Sherriunte Porter of the Forrest City Police Department, 3rd.

Top Physical Training Awards for the men’s division went to Timothy Delmundo of the Jonesboro Police Department, 1st; Hunter Darby of the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, 2nd; and Jacob Martinez of the West Memphis Police Department, 3rd.

Top EVOC Awards went to Joshawa Lipsey of the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, 1st; Austin (AJ) Smith of the Mammoth Spring Police Department, 2nd; and Jacob Birkhead of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office, 3rd.

Pictures of the ceremony can be found at .

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu.

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UA System Criminal Justice Institute Director Alicia Corder Named Keynote Speaker for BRTC LETA Graduation

Claire Fisher — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:39:54 +0000

Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) Director Jared Bassham is pleased to announced the keynote speaker for the Spring 2026-A LETA graduation will be University of Arkansas System Criminal Justice Institute Director Alicia Corder.

Corder retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on December 31, 2025, after nearly 23 years of service. Most recently she served as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. Before becoming the SAC of Little Rock, Corder served as the Section Chief for the Internal Affairs Section, in Washington DC at FBI Headquarters, overseeing all allegations of misconduct concerning FBI employees.

Corder began her FBI career in 2003 and worked counterterrorism matters in Sacramento and Los Angeles Field Offices until 2010. She then worked violent crime and white-collar matters in Modesto, California until 2013. From 2013 to 2015 Corder worked in Washington DC at FBI Headquarters before being selected as a squad supervisor for Washington Field Office in 2015. In 2018, Corder was selected as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the St. Louis Field Office where she oversaw all criminal programs.

Prior to joining the FBI, Corder practiced law in Indiana. She received a JD from Indiana University School of Law and a BS from Indiana State University.

The BRTC LETA Spring 2026-A graduation will be held Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph County Development Center (RCDC) on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. There will also be an Open House for the new LETA barracks beginning at 5 p.m., with a brief tour of the college following. Graduation is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the LETA Facebook page.

For more information about the BRTC Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at (870) 248-4190, or email at bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu.

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91ԭ�� LETA Graduates 53rd Class

Claire Fisher — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:19:06 +0000

On Thursday, November 13, Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) held the Fall 2025 graduation ceremony for Class 2025-B on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. The graduating class was composed of 42 officers from 26 different agencies and completed 604 hours of training.

The recruits and their families were welcomed by BRTC President Martin Eggensperger and Vice President of Academic Affairs Brad Baine at the start of the ceremony. Trevor Jones of the Blytheville Police Department, class spokesperson, followed Baine and left the class with words of encouragement. Deputy Director of Training for the Arkansas Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ADLEST) Jason Lawrence was the guest speaker for the ceremony.

The United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was presented to Kerry Goodlow of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office. Kenneth Gillmore of the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy Servant Leadership Award.

91ԭ�� LETA faculty recognized and awarded the top recruits from Class 2025-B. Tristen Griese of the Paragould Police Department was named Top Overall, which is earned by having the overall highest average in the areas of academics, firearms, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course), and physical fitness. Robert Phillips of the Paragould Police Department earned second overall. Hunter Fortson of the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office earned third.

Top Academic Awards went to Sydney Musticchi of the Jonesboro Police Department, 1st; Isaiah Sands of the Arkansas Highway Police, 2nd; and Robert Phillips of the Paragould Police Department, 3rd.

Top Firearms were Thomas Olmos Jr., of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, 1st; Noah Burnside of the Walnut Ridge Police Department and Billy Mixon Jr., of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, 2nd; and Scottie Ward of the Paragould Police Department, 3rd.

Top Physical Training Awards went to Eric Grisham of the Mountain Home Police Department, 1st; Isaiah Sands of the Arkansas Highway Police, 2nd; and Ethan Perez of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office, 3rd.

Top EVOC Awards went to Garrett Gurley of the Arkansas Highway Police, 1^st; Tanner Weckwerth of the Heber Springs Police Department, 2^nd; and Robert Phillips of the Paragould Police Department, 3^rd.

Pictures of the ceremony can be found at .

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu

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91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy Swears in New Instructor

Claire Fisher — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000

On Monday, September 15, the 91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) swore in new LETA instructor Jonathan Redman.

Arkansas law requires all police offices to sign a Code of Ethics and take an Oath of Office. These require an officer to swear allegiance to the Constitution. Judge Alex Bigger, BRTC Foundation Board Member, administered the Oath of Office to Redman. Both Redman and Judge Bigger have served for years as adjunct LETA instructors.

“We are very excited to have Jon Redman join our LETA team,” LETA Director Jared Bassham said. “He brings an exceptional amount of experience and education.” Bassham also said he was glad to have the opportunity to perform this ceremony in front of the LETA recruits, as it reinforces the significance of the oath they took when they were hired.

91ԭ��’s Law Enforcement Training Academy provides multiple courses required for Arkansas law enforcement free of charge. Individuals can take basic police training, traffic accident management, and advanced law enforcement classes. Upcoming advanced classes can be found on the LETA page on the BRTC website.

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy, contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu or call at (870) 248-4190.

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91ԭ�� LETA Holds Mock Crash Investigations

Claire Fisher — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:47:01 +0000

91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) Fall 2025 recruits recently participated in mock traffic crashes on the Pocahontas campus.

The hands-on training went along with the academy’s third week of instruction, traffic crash investigations. LETA instructors set up three different scenarios around the LETA building, teaching recruits what to look for and how to handle situations they might encounter on the job.

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy, contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu or call at (870) 248-4190.

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Law Enforcement Training Academy Hosts Training Courses

Claire Fisher — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:42:51 +0000

Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) recently hosted multiple training sessions for law enforcement members in the community.

The week of May 19 LETA hosted a training taught by Glock Training Division. The workshop consisted to two courses, Glock Armorer and Glock Modular Optic System (MOS) Instructor Workshop. Students learned how to properly service and maintain Glock Gen 5 and previous generations in an eight-hour course. They also participated in a dynamic shooting course. Chris Wright, a former LETA student, instructed the Glock training. Training took place at the LETA building on the Pocahontas campus and at the Randolph County shooting range.

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu

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91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy Holds ALERRT Training

Claire Fisher — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:40:28 +0000

The 91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) recently held a 3-day training course for law enforcement members in the community.

The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) First Responder Medical Train-the-Trainer course ran from June 2 through June 4 and took place on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. On Tuesday, June 3, the ALERRT students conducted a scenario-based training outside the LETA building using emergency vehicles.

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu

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91ԭ�� Law Enforcement Training Academy Instructor Retires After 16 Years of Service

Claire Fisher — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:32:54 +0000

Left to Right: BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger, Darren Plaster, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brad Baine

Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) Instructor Darren Plaster has retired from 91ԭ�� after 16 years of service. Plaster also served the citizens of the State of Arkansas for over 32 years.

“Instructor Plaster has truly been a dedicated law enforcement professional for his entire career. We were very fortunate to have Darren as a LETA Instructor for the past 16 years at BRTC. Every high-quality training program has individuals that are the foundation of the program, and for the Law Enforcement Training Academy at BRTC, Darren has provided outstanding instruction and guidance for the LETA recruits,” Dr. Brad Baine, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said.

Plaster was recognized at an end-of-the-year celebration for BRTC faculty and staff. He received a plaque and a bench to recognize his commitment to BRTC. Plater was also given his service weapon as part of Arkansas code.

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu .

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91ԭ�� LETA Graduates 52nd Class

Claire Fisher — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:33:14 +0000

On Tuesday April 8, Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) held the Spring 2025 graduation ceremony for Class 2025-A on the BRTC campus in Paragould. The graduating class was composed of 40 officers from 28 different agencies and completed 603 hours of training.

The recruits were greeted by BRTC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brad Baine at the start of the ceremony. Caynon Rorex of the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, class spokesperson, followed Baine and left her class with words of encouragement. Deputy United States Marshal and previous LETA Instructor Ben Runnels also addressed the class privately before the ceremony as their guest speaker.

The United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was presented to Whitney Barnum of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office. The United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was named in honor of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt, a 2007-B LETA graduate who was killed in the line of duty. The $500 scholarship will be used for her professional development.

The Jami L. Cook Award of Excellence was presented to Nathan Davis of the Jonesboro Police Department. The award is presented to an exceptional student who exhibits an exemplary commitment to ethical service as a law enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas. The student’s foundation of excellence should be demonstrated through perseverance, resilience, and integrity-driven conduct that distinguishes them from their peers.

91ԭ�� LETA faculty recognized and awarded the top cadets from Class 2025-A. Jerry Hughes of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office was named Top Overall, which is earned by having the overall highest average in the areas of academics, firearms, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course), and physical fitness. Jacob Tooley of the Harrison Police Department earned second overall. Landon Martin of the Marked Tree Police Department earned third.

Top Academic Awards went to Nathan Davis of the Jonesboro Police Department, 1^st; Caynon Rorex of the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, 2^nd; and Collin Moseley of the Harrison Police Department, 3^rd.

Top Firearms were Christopher Damron of the Cross County Sheriff’s Office, 1^st; Caston Tate of the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, 2^nd; and Travis Graves of the Arkansas Highway Police, 3^rd.

Top Physical Training Awards (Male Division) went to Jacob Tooley of the Harrison Police Department, 1^st; Jerry Hughes of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office, 2^nd; and Michael King of the Beebe Police Department and Landon Martin of the Marked Tree Police Department, 3^rd.

Top Physical Training Awards (Female Division) went to Madison Vannattan of the Batesville Police Department, 1^st; Kamaryn Kick of the Pocahontas Police Department, 2^nd; and Ashley Sansom of the Ward Police Department, 3^rd.

Pictures of the ceremony can be found here:

For more information about BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Bridgette Rose at Bridgette.rose@blackrivertech.edu

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Deputy United States Marshal Ben Runnels Named Keynote Speaker for BRTC LETA Graduation

Claire Fisher — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:37:18 +0000

Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) Director Jared Bassham is pleased to announce the keynote speaker for the Spring 2025-A LETA graduation will be Deputy United States Marshall Ben Runnels.

Runnels began is law enforcement career in 2006 with the Jonesboro Police Department and graduated from the BRTC LETA 2006-B class. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007 as an infantryman and is a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2011, Runnels transitioned to BRTC’s LETA as a full-time instructor. Runnels was hired by the United States Marshals Service in 2016 and successfully completed the 21-week U.S. Marshals Academy in Glynco, Georgia.

Runnels holds two associate degrees from BRTC. He also holds several degrees from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, including a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters of Public Administration. Runnels is currently assigned to the Western District of Tennessee where he lives with his wife Kimberly and their two daughters.

The BRTC LETA Spring 2025-A graduation will be held on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph County Development Center (RCDC) on the BRTC Pocahontas campus. Graduation is open to the public and will be livestreamed on LETA’s Facebook page.

For more information about the BRTC Law Enforcement Training Academy contact Director Jared Bassham at (870) 248-4190, or email jared.bassham@blackrivertech.edu.

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91ԭ�� Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for LETA Barracks

Claire Fisher — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:58:24 +0000

On November 13, 91ԭ�� held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) barracks.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. During her speech she showed her deep appreciation for Arkansas law enforcement, and commended BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy for all of their hard work and their contribution to the law enforcement community in Arkansas. Also speaking with Governor Sanders was BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger, Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training Director Chris Chapmond, and Arkansas Senator Blake Johnson.

"The facility we’re breaking ground for will not only provide generations of future law enforcement officers with the training and resources they need to serve and protect our communities effectively, but it will also symbolize a legacy of commitment to fostering a safer, stronger Arkansas,” Eggensperger said.

The Law Enforcement Training Academy at BRTC is the only training academy affiliated with a college in the state of Arkansas. The academy mainly serves Northeast Arkansas but they have had officers from all across the state attend the program. LETA trains around 120 officers a year from local stations and sheriff’s offices, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Police, and other local and state agencies.

For many officers attending the academy traveling can become a major problem. Due to some officers living in other areas of the state it is not practical for them to drive home every day. In the past, to help with the stress of travel, BRTC has rented local motels for officers to stay in during the school week. Motel rent alone was the program’s second highest budget item. BRTC believes having on-campus facilities would not only take care of rental costs, but would benefit the well-being of the officers and the program.

In order to build the barracks BRTC received $4.7 million from the Arkansas State and Local Recovery Funds distributed by the American Rescue Plan Act. The money has enabled BRTC to begin construction of a two-story living facility for officers attending the academy. The barracks will be able to house 60 students and four faculty members. They will also be able to house guest instructors from FEMA, U.S. Secret Service, ATF, FBI, CJI, and Arkansas State Police. The barracks were designed by Brackett-Kennerich Architects and are being constructed by Clark General Contractors, Inc.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Training Academy visit /college-coursework/academic-units/service-programs/leta/.

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91ԭ�� LETA Graduates 51st Class

Claire Fisher — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:54:48 +0000

On Thursday, November 14, Black River Technical College’s (BRTC) Law Enforcement Training Academy (LETA) held the Fall 2024 graduation ceremony for the 37 officers who completed the Basic Police Training Course.

The 51^st graduating LETA class received recognition and a heavy thanks from BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Brad Baine at the beginning of the ceremony. Graduates were also greeted by their class speaker, Emily Flugrad of the Paragould Police Department.

Colonel Mike Hagar, Secretary of Public Safety and Director of Arkansas State Police, was the keynote speaker. He reminded the officers that public safety was now their top priority and the State of Arkansas depends on them. However, he also told them that they needed to take care of their mental health and not shut out help. Colonel Hagar also addresses the officers’ families during his speech. He told families that their position is a hard position to be in, but the officers need someone to be in their corner and to take care of them while they are protecting the public.

Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training Director Chris Chapmond presented the United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship to Corey Rowe of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. The United Police Supply’s Jonathan Schmidt Memorial Scholarship was named in honor of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt, a 2007-B LETA graduate who was killed in the line of duty. The $500 scholarship will be used for his professional development.

Chapmond also presented the Jami L. Cook Award of Excellence to Kaleb Burns of the Arkansas Highway Police. The award is presented to an exceptional student who exhibits an exemplary commitment to ethical service as a law enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas. The student’s foundation of excellence should be demonstrated through perseverance, resilience, and integrity-driven conduct that distinguishes them from their peers.

91ԭ�� LETA faculty recognized and awarded the top cadets from class 2024-B. Jacob Harris of the Paragould Police Department was named Top Overall, which is earned by having the overall highest average in the areas of academics, firearms, EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course), and physical fitness. Connor Frazier of the Blytheville Police Department earned second overall. Logan Scott of the Clinton Police Department earned third.

Top Academic Awards went to Jacob Harris of the Paragould Police Department, 1^st; Logan Scott of the Clinton Police Department, 2^nd; and Connor Frazier of the Blytheville Police Department, 3^rd.

Top Firearms were Sarah Bone of the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, 1^st; Lance Davis of the Monette Police Department, 2^nd; and Wesley Hudson of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, 3^rd.

Top EVOC Awards went to Jacob Harris of the Paragould Police Department, 1^st; Micah Hogan of the Lake City Police Department, 2^nd; and Kody Frazier of the Paragould Police Department, 3^rd.

Top Physical Fitness students were Logan Scott of the Clinton Police Department, 1^st; Jacob Harris of the Paragould Police Department, 2^nd; and Dylan Works of the Paragould Police Department, 3^rd.

For pictures of the event follow this link

For more information about the Law Enforcement Training Academy visit /college-coursework/academic-units/service-programs/leta/.

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