Yesterday the Saline County Arkansas Sheriff's Office celebrated the career of retiring Captain Ron Parsons.
With more than 28 years of total law enforcement under his belt, Captain Ron Parsons is hanging up his Deputy Sheriff's Hat. Captain Parsons has been a long time staple of this agency having commanded almost every division here. It's safe to say that he has left some BIG shoes for someone else to step into.
In a ceremony where there was standing room only, friends, co-workers (past and present) and admirers from far and wide came out to show their support and gratefulness for his contributions to this agency and community.
Chief Deputy Robertson read a brief summary of Captain Parsons career which actually started in California. After deciding that he and his family were a better fit in Arkansas, he moved to Saline County in the late 1980's and has been here ever since.
Sheriff Wright was honored to present Captain Parsons with a shadow box which displays items from his career over the years. Additionally, the Sheriff also presented him with his duty weapon which had been personally engraved.
MEDIA RELEASE
6/22/22
BENTON, AR - Saline County Sheriff's Office Captain Joe Traylor has recently graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The 282nd session of the National Academy consisted of men and women from 47 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 26 countries, four military organizations, and nine federal civilian organizations.
Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. Participants must have proven records as professionals within their agencies to attend. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.
FBI Director Christopher Asher Wray delivered remarks at the ceremony. Class spokesperson Jimmy Johnson of the Amarillo Police Department represented the graduating officers.
FBI Academy instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees provide the training; many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. Since 1972, National Academy students have been able to earn undergraduate and graduate credits from the University of Virginia, which accredits many of the courses offered.
A total of 53,435 graduates have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935. Captain Traylor is the first active member of the Saline County Sheriff's Office to attend the FBI National Academy. He joins Sheriff Rodney Wright and Chief Deputy Dustin Robertson to make a total of three FBI NA graduates at the SCSO. Both Sheriff Wright and Chief Deputy Robertson attended while employed at previous agencies. The National Academy is held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, the same facility where the FBI trains its new special agents and intelligence analysts.
ANNOUNCEMENT: 2019 Saline County Sheriff's Office Annual Awards
Sheriff Wright has selected the following Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) personnel for our 2019 Annual Awards:
Medal of Valor- This award is presented, if applicable, to those members who, in the line of duty, on or off duty, that have placed themselves in immediate and serious danger, far above the risk that is expected, in an effort to save another person from serious injury or death. The recipient (s) of the Medal of Valor shall receive a medallion and certificate denoting the award.
The recipients for the Medal of Valor, for the 2019 year, are Deputy Tyler Lovell, Deputy Tre Davis, Deputy Kate Hawthorn, and Deputy Tommy Holcomb.
Deputy of the Year- This award is presented to the member, deemed by the Sheriff, to have made the most significant contribution to the overall success of the Sheriff's Office during the past year, the recipient of the Deputy of the Year Award shall receive a plaque and certificate denoting the award.
The recipients for the Deputy of Year Award, for the 2019 year, are Deputies Tyler Lovell and Tre Davis.
Civilian Employee of the Year- This award is presented to the civilian employee, deemed by the Sheriff, to have made the most significant contribution to the overall success of the Saline County Sheriff's Office during the past year. The recipient of the Civilian of the Year shall receive a plaque and certificate denoting the award.
The recipient of the Civilian of the Year Award, for the 2019 year, is Mr. Justin Tittle.
Reserve Deputy of the Year- This award is presented to the Reserve Deputy, deemed by the Sheriff, to have made the most significant contribution to the overall success of the Sheriff's Office during the past year. The recipient of the Reserve Deputy of the Year shall receive a plaque and certificate denoting the award.
The recipient of the Reserve Deputy of the Year Award, for the 2019 year, is Deputy Eddie Tackett.
Pictured in the photo from left to right are Deputy Tommy Holcomb, Deputy Tre Davis, Mr. Justin Tittle, Sheriff Rodney Wright, Deputy Tyler Lovell, and Deputy Kate Hawthorn.
On March 27, 2020, Sheriff Rodney Wright awarded Detention Deputy Sullivan Sulzberger the Saline County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputy of the Year Award. This award is presented to the detention officer, deemed by the Sheriff, to have made the most significant contribution to the overall success of the Saline County Detention Center during the past year. Deputy Sulzberger received a plaque and a certificate denoting the award. Deputy Sulzberger is also a recent graduate from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, where he was awarded First in Class in the physical fitness category; Deputy Sulzberger has been with the Saline County Sheriff's Office since 2018.
On March 05, 2020, Saline Health Foundation Director Matt Brumley presented five (5) new Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) to Sheriff Rodney Wright for use by Saline County deputies. These AED's were purchased through monies raised by the foundation's "The Beat Goes On 5K Run. Sheriff Wright plans on distributing these devices to shift personnel, increasing our deputies abilities to utilize this equipment to save lives. Sheriff Wright stated, " I would like to thank Director Brumley and the Saline Health Foundation for supplying these AED's as we continue to increase our capabilities within the Saline County Sheriff's Office which in turn, translates to better services provided to the community in which we serve."
On January 7th, 2020, Sheriff Rodney Wright presented Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) Detention Officer Chris Gentry with the SCSO Lifesaving Award. Deputy Gentry, who is assigned to the SCSO Detention Facility, recently came into contact with an inmate that stopped breathing and was unresponsive. Deputy Gentry immediately began lifesaving measures, including CPR and utilization of the Automated External Defibrillator, until medical personnel could arrive on scene and transport the inmate to the Saline Memorial Hospital.
As a result of his quick actions, the inmate in question was expected to make a complete recovery.
Friday December 20th marked the culmination of thirteen weeks of intensive academic and physical training for three Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) deputies as they graduated from the Central Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in North Little Rock.
Deputy Adontae Winston, Deputy David Belue and Deputy Blake Vise completed the 520-hour program of instruction which included subjects such as criminal and civil law, firearms, emergency driving, physical training, hand-to-hand combat and technical writing. The keynote address was given by Arkansas Division of Emergency Management Director A.J. Gary, and encouraged thoughtfulness and integrity in service.
Deputy Winston and Deputy Vise are assigned to the Patrol Division. Deputy Belue is assigned to the Administration Division, Civil Process Section. Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright congratulated the deputies and welcomed them to the Sheriff's Office.
Four Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies were recently honored by the Rotary Club of Benton and Bauxite as the First Responders of the Month. Deputy Tyler Lovell, Deputy Tre Davis, Dep. Kate Hawthorn and Dep. Tommy Holcomb were selected based upon a nomination by Sheriff Rodney Wright which detailed their actions during a shooting that occurred on November 30th.
Each of the deputies responded to the incident in which five victims received serious gunshot wounds in various areas of their bodies. The deputies applied tourniquets and other emergency medical devices to the victims in order to control bleeding and prevent further injuries. After transferring care of the victims to paramedics, the deputies began searching for the suspect.
Sheriff Wright has commended the deputies for their quick thinking, expert actions and professional demeanor during this crisis, which contributed directly towards saving the lives of the five victims.
Benton, AR – On Wednesday, August 28th, Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright was sworn in as an inaugural member of the newly formed Arkansas 911 Board. Saline County Circuit Judge Gary Arnold administered the oath of office to Sheriff Wright.
The Board, which is part of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, was established by House Bill 1564 of 2019 for the purposes of developing a next generation 911 system, providing funding for further deploying rural broadband as the appropriate platform for emergency networks, and simplifying and consolidating charges currently paid by telecommunication subscribers to provide services in the most efficient manner possible.
Sheriff Wright remarked, “I was honored to have been appointed to the Board by the Governor.” He went on to state, “I look forward to working with the other board members to help increase the efficiency of our 911 systems, which will allow us to provide a higher level of public safety and services to our communities.”
Sheriff Wright was appointed by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to serve a four-year term.
BENTON, AR – Sergeant Wade Gilliam of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Selective Enforcement Unit was honored recently by the Arkansas Sheriffs Association at their annual conference last week in Rogers.
Sgt. Gilliam received the 2019 Outstanding Service Award for his dedication to the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association Honor Guard Team. Sgt. Gilliam has been a member of the honor guard since 2015 and has been the team coordinator since 2017.
The Arkansas Sheriffs Association Honor Guard is composed of volunteers from Sheriff’s Offices throughout Arkansas and serves as a steward to law enforcement functions throughout the state.