Arkansas Police Enforcing Own Standards

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. - As FOX13 uncovered Wednesday, Arkansas state law does not require law enforcement officers to have any training before they hit the streets by themselves. But we've found some police departments, are creating and following their own training standards.

Many Arkansas law enforcement agencies are taking matters in to their own hands, and they've implemented higher standards for their officers than what the state requires; something they say keeps their officers and the public safe.

West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert, says he's seen questionable police practices, while driving through one small Arkansas town.

Chief Paudert observed, "I witnessed a red Camaro with blue lights on, stop someone in front of me. He gets out with the white T-shirt, blue jeans with pistol on his belt. I wouldn't stop for someone like that."

Paudert admits his department has had its fair share of problems, but makes training their number one priority. "Our officers, before they ever hit the streets alone, have over 1,000 hours of training time."

In West Memphis an officer's hire is contingent on them passing a 1 week orientation, led by full-time training officer Sgt. Chuck Noles. It includes firearms and policy training.
According to Sgt. Noles, "They go through tazing training, 8 hours of racial profiling and they go through intensive driving."

New hires are also assigned a field training officer and are tested weekly before they even go to the police academy.

They're not alone, other law enforcement agencies, like Crittenden County, have implemented their own training policies which are far more strict than what the state requires. "I think they should be trained before they're put on the street without any training at all," said Paudert.

But as FOX13 uncovered Wednesday, Arkansas state law says an officer can be hired and on the streets for up to 20 months with no training whatsoever.

Senator Jim Luker says he plans to meet with other lawmakers to change the law. Chief Paudert admits it needs to be looked at as well.

"I will agree there are problems with some areas in Arkansas with untrained police officers," said Paudert. "But the majority of officers in the state are well trained."