December 12, 2023— Attorney General Tim Griffin today honored law enforcement officers from across Arkansas at the 2023 Officer of the Year Awards luncheon. At the conclusion of the 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.
“This year’s state Officers of the Year are Special Agent Matt Foster and Senior Corporal David Smothers of the Arkansas State Police. These two officers were responsible this year 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.
“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.
“My office remains committed to supporting and working with Arkansas’s law enforcement community to ensure they can continue to protect and serve our citizens at the highest levels of excellence and professionalism.”
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.
The honoree from Calhoun County was Trooper First Class Justin Starnes, from the Arkansas State Police.
