Rutledge names LEOs of the Year

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge hosted the 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards yesterday.

Lonoke Police Officer Brandon Ray, Lonoke Police Officer Cody Carpenter and Arkansas State Police Corporal Mark Blackerby were named the Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Officers Carpenter and Ray and Corporal Blackerby apprehended a suspect accused of kidnapping a girl from North Carolina. Rutledge said their actions saved the child and safely reunited her with her family.

The Howard County Officer of the Year is Officer James Ross of the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. The Pike County Officer of the Year is Deputy James Garrett of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. The Hempstead County Officer of the Year is Arkansas State Police Trooper Trevor Dew.