Arkansas Grown

To Protect and Serve Law Enforcement in the State’s Largest Industry The law enforcement officers of the Arkansas “We value our partnership with local law enforcement Department of Agriculture (Department)devote their and are proud to be another tool for them to use in careers to protecting the top industry in the state-addressing agricultural crimes in rural areas across the agriculture. These fully-certified officers investigate state,” said Black. crimes that affect any part of Arkansas agriculture, The law enforcement team has and they help enforce also worked cases that cross state regulations promulgated by “We value our lines. Investigators have partnered the boards and commissions partnership with local with the Ashley County Sheriff’s within the Department.

Office and Louisiana authorities, law enforcement and But two years ago, the team including the Louisiana Department are proud to be another had a much narrower focus. of Agriculture and Forestry, to stop tool for them to use in an arsonist responsible for setting Billy Black, the Chief of addressing agricultural fires in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Law Enforcement for the Charges are currently pending in the crimes in rural areas Department, was first an case where 70 acres were burned across the state.” officer for the Arkansas in Arkansas and more than 27 were Forestry Division. He and burned in Louisiana. other law enforcement officers were responsible for investigating wildfires, arson, dumping, and timber “I want people to know that we are here. We’re a and equipment theft, until the duties of the law specialized unit that’s made for them,” said Black. enforcement team were expanded in 2018 to cover a “Farmers and ranchers work hard every day to feed, wider range of agricultural crimes. He and his team clothe, and shelter the rest of us, and we want to be of three additional officers are now part of the Shared helpful in every way we can when they are the victims Services Division of the Department and serve all of crime.” producers and all divisions within the department.

Victims of agricultural crimes should contact their “We stay busy,” says Black. local authorities first to start the process, then contact the Department by calling or submitting a complaint The department’s four law enforcement officers cover form through the Department’s website. One of the the entire state. Their biggest caseload remains Department’s law enforcement officers will contact timber theft, but as word of team’s expanded duties the victim and local authorities. The Department’s spreads, cases dealing with livestock theft and other officers and local authorities will then decide the best agricultural crimes are increasing. course of action for the case.

Before the expansion of duties for the Department Just because agriculture-related crimes aren’t the most law enforcement team, local law enforcement was heinous doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Black the sole source of assistance for victims of agricultural says he’s seen a family lose their entire retirement crimes that were not forestry-related. Now, the because of timber theft. Luckily, his officers were able department’s law enforcement team is available to to catch the person responsible and the family got assist local law enforcement entities in responding to their money back. On average, the law enforcement all agricultural crimes.

ARKANSAS GROWN 74