Fort Smith, AR
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The Fort Smith Police Department is led by the Chief of Police. The department is divided into three bureaus; Administration, Non-Uniform, and Uniform. The Administration Bureau is led by the Deputy Director of Administrative Services. This non-uniformed position oversees the Office of Professional Standards and the administrative functions of the department, such as grants, budgeting, payroll, and purchasing.
The remaining two bureaus are led by a Deputy Chief. Within each bureau there are two divisions, each led by a Captain. The two divisions within the Uniformed bureau are Patrol Field Operations and Patrol Special Operations. These two divisions include the majority of uniformed police officers. The two divisions within the Non-Uniformed Bureau are the Criminal Investigation Division and the Support Services Division.
The complete FSPD Organizational Chart can be found by clicking HERE.
These eight leadership positions make up the command staff of the Fort Smith Police Department. Get to know each below.
Chief of Police, Danny Baker
Chief Danny Baker has served for over 25 years as a law enforcement officer in the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas, beginning his career with the Fort Smith Police Department in 2001. He served 8 years in the United States Army Reserve and Oklahoma Army National Guard as a Military Police Officer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice with a Law Enforcement emphasis from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. He is a 2018 graduate of the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute Police Chief Executive Development Course, a 2021 graduate of PERF's Senior Management Institute for Police, and a 2022 graduate of FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. Named Interim Chief of Police in April 2019 and appointed Chief of Police in September of that same year, Chief Baker has aquired thousands of hours of continuing law enforcement and advanced leadership training throughout his career and currently holds a Chief Level II certification with CLEST. He was appointed to the Arkansas State 911 Board by the Arkansas Chiefs of Police Association in 2021 where he is currently serving his second term. He was named the 2022 Outstanding Chief of Police by the Arkansas Fraternal Order of Police and received the 2023 Community Service Award from the Fort Smith Round Table for his work in implementing true community policing in Fort Smith. He serves or has served on the boards of the Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy, the Fort Smith Health Advisory Council, Christmas Honors for veterans and their families, and the Fort Smith Museum of History. In 2023, the FSPD obtained the prestigious TriArc award from the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for successful accreditation of its Law Enforcement, Communications, and Training Academy functions becoming only the second agency in the state to achieve this. The department has also obtained Tier I Advanced Accreditation status from the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Deputy Chief Jason Thompson, Uniform Bureau
Deputy Chief Jason Thompson started his career with the Fort Smith Police Department in May 2006 and was assigned to the Patrol Division after completing the basic police academy. During his time in the Patrol Division, he was awarded a Life Saving Award in 2009. He became a Field Training Officer in 2011 and was named the Fort Smith Police Department’s Officer of the Year in 2012. Deputy Chief Thompson was promoted to Sergeant in November of 2014 and remained in patrol where was assigned as a Patrol Sergeant. In September of 2017 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and served as a Troop Commander in the Patrol Division until being transferred to the Office of Professional Standards in June of 2018. Deputy Chief Thompson was promoted to the rank of Captain in October of 2018 and assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he oversaw the Department’s four investigative units. In June of 2020, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and currently serves as the Chief of the Non-Uniformed Bureau.
Deputy Chief Thompson’s professional achievements include graduating from the University of Arkansas’s CJI School of Law Enforcement Supervision in May of 2016. He also completed the FBI-LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute and FSPD Supervision Class in 2017. In 2018, he completed the 21st Century Police Executive Leadership Challenge, the FBI-LEEDA Internal Affairs Investigations Course, and the Workplace Supervision Series at UAFS. Deputy Chief Thompson also completed the FBI-LEEDA Reflective Leadership Institute in 2019. In 2021, he completed the Police Chief Executive Development Course presented by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police and the Criminal Justice Institute-University of Arkansas system. In 2022, Deputy Chief Thompson was selected as the Columbia Southern University Outstanding Law Enforcement Professional and graduated from the 282nd Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Deputy Chief Thompson has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Deputy Chief Anthony Parkinson, Non-Uniformed Bureau
Deputy Chief Anthony Parkinson began his career with the Fort Smith Police Department on May 8th, 2006. After graduating from the police academy, he was assigned to the Patrol Division as a patrol officer. On March 3rd, 2013 he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a property crimes detective later becoming part of the crimes against persons unit where he investigated major cases such as homicides, rapes and robberies. October 2017 saw him promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division where he served as a Troop Sergeant. In April of 2019 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Patrol Division where he served as a Troop Commander. He was next promoted to Captain in December 2020 serving as the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. In March 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Chief and is currently the Chief of the Uniformed Bureau.
Deputy Chief Parkinson’s professional achievements include graduating from the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisor and Command Leadership courses. He has completed numerous courses in leadership and supervision from the Criminal Justice Institute and completed the UAFS Workplace Supervision Series course. Deputy Chief Parkinson attended the National Gang Violence Summit in Arlington, VA in 2010 and the National Homicide Seminar in Kansas City, MO in 2016. He has extensive training in criminal investigations which include homicide investigations and crime scene management. Deputy Chief Parkinson is a certified police professional instructor and firearms instructor. He currently teaches search warrant preparations, interview and interrogations, basics of criminal investigations, and death investigations at our basic police officer academy. In 2013, Deputy Chief Parkinson's departmental awards include the Life Saving Award given in 2013 and he was Officer of the Year in 2014.
Dan Dennis, Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Dan Dennis comes to us from Godley, Texas, and has an extensive background serving both inside and outside of law enforcement. He and his family "have long dreamed of moving to Arkansas," he said, finally taking that step in February 2022 when he applied to FSPD while still employed as the Director of Civil Service for Haltom City, Texas. Prior to that role, he was the Chief of Police and Director of Information Technology for Forest Hill, a dual role he held for 10 years. Altogether, Mr. Dennis has worked as a Sworn Officer for 30 years in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Administration. He holds a Master of Science Degree from Sam Houston State University, completed his undergraduate work in Criminal Justice at Mountain State University in West Virginia, and attended Graduate School of Police Staff and Command through Northwestern University in Illinois.
Captain Daniel Grubbs, Patrol Field Operations Division
Captain Daniel Grubbs began his career with the Fort Smith Police Department in July of 1999. He is a certified Law Enforcement Instructor and Firearms Instructor. He has served as a patrol officer, bicycle officer, SWAT officer, street crimes detective, property crimes task force detective, patrol sergeant, administrative sergeant, public information officer, lieutenant over criminal investigations, and Assistant SWAT Team Commander. In November of 2017, following promotion to lieutenant, he was assigned as the Assistant Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division where he was responsible for all investigations in the City of Fort Smith. In November of 2018, he was promoted to Captain, and served as the Patrol Special Operations Commander and SWAT Team Commander. In March of 2019, he was appointed as the Patrol Special Operations Commander, followed by Field Operations Commander in June 2023. During his career, Captain Grubbs has amassed over 2,370 training hours. Prior to employment with the department, he attended Rich Mountain Community College, Northeastern State University, Henderson State University, and the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He grew up in Mena, Arkansas and graduated with honors with the class of 1992. He is blessed with a strong and supportive wife, and they have four wonderful children and one grandson. “Keep God, Family and Honor as your top 3, and you’ll never go wrong."
Captain Steven Creek, Patrol Special Operations Division
Captain Steven Creek began his career as a 911 dispatcher in March of 2010 before becoming a sworn police officer for the department in June 2012. Captain Creek was assigned to the Patrol Division where he served on all three troops before being accepted into the department's newly-created Motor Unit where he also served as a Collision Reconstructionist. Throughout his career, Captain Creek gained valuable experience, serving on the SWAT team for almost seven years, the department's Honor Guard, Search and Rescue, and Mobile Field Force teams. Captain Creek continues instructing at the Fort Smith Police Department's Regional Academy where he instructs students on active shooter response, collision investigations, crowd control, traffic control, and assists with defensive tactics and other courses as needed.
Captain Creek was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in October of 2019 where he was assigned to the Special Operations Division Traffic Unit. He was then promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in December of 2020 and remained in the Special Operations Division. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in June of 2023 where he was assigned as the Special Operations Division Commander. He has received two Lifesaving awards, a Chief’s Commendation award, and was the Arkansas Attorney General’s Officer of the Year for Sebastian County in 2019.
Captain Wendall Sampson, Criminal Investigations Division
Captain Wendall Sampson started his career with the Fort Smith Police Department in 1995. He has served in numerous positions including the Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, the Airport Unit, Communications, Community Relations, and Professional Standards. In 2017 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Community Relations unit. In 2018 he was promoted to Lieutenant and took a position in the department’s Office of Professional Standards. His most recent promotion, to Captain, took place in December of 2020 and he is currently the commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. Captain Sampson saw service in the Marine Corps, holds a B.A. from the University of Charleston West Virginia, and is a member of several organizations including the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Sebastian County NAACP and is a past president of the Fraternal Order of Police #39. He is currently married and has one daughter.
Captain Wes Milam, Support Services Division
Captain Wes Milam serves as the Support Services Division Commander within the Non-Uniform Bureau of the Fort Smith Police Department. His responsibilities include oversight of recruiting, hiring, 911 communications, department training, front desk, central records, quartermaster, facility management, and animal services. Capt. Milam is a 21-year veteran of the Fort Smith Police Department and has served in numerous roles including Emergency Management, Community Relations, Public Information, Patrol Special Operations, Collision Reconstructionist, and Crisis Negotiator.
He is a graduate of Class #562 of the Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. He has also a Trilogy Award Recipient after completing the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association's Supervisor, Command, and Executive Leadership Institute Courses.
Capt. Milam has earned a Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Capt. Milam also serves as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.