Arkansas Louis Bryant Chapter of the
National Black State Troopers Coalition
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of the Arkansas Louis Bryant Chapter of the National Black State Troopers Coalition has reviewed the publicly available video footage concerning recent Arkansas State Police use-of-force incidents in Mississippi County involving African American individuals.
The Board recognizes both the significant authority entrusted to law-enforcement officers and the responsibility that accompanies that authority. Every person deserves to be treated fairly, professionally, and with dignity, regardless of race, sex, gender, or background. Likewise, allegations involving excessive force or racial bias deserve serious, objective, and fact-based review.
Based on the Board’s review of the video footage currently available, the officers appear to have attempted to gain compliance and utilize de-escalation measures before physical force was employed. Any use of force, including the techniques depicted in these videos, must be evaluated according to the totality of the circumstances—including the conduct of the individuals involved, the level of resistance encountered, the actions of the officers leading up to the use of force, any perceived threat to officers or others, and the officers’ responsibility to safely complete the arrests.
Based solely upon the evidence presently available, the Board has not identified evidence establishing that race was a motivating factor in the officers’ decisions to use force in these incidents.
The Board believes this distinction is important. The fact that the individuals involved are African American warrants neither the automatic conclusion that racial bias occurred nor the dismissal of legitimate questions concerning the officers’ actions. Such conclusions should be based on evidence, established policy, applicable law, and a complete review of the circumstances.
The Arkansas Louis Bryant Chapter strongly supports transparency and accountability in law enforcement. When an officer’s conduct falls outside established professional standards, that conduct should be identified and addressed appropriately. By the same principle, when the available evidence supports that an officer acted within established training, policy, and the reasonable requirements of the circumstances presented, that conclusion should also be acknowledged.
The Board recognizes the history and concerns that can contribute to distrust between African American communities and law enforcement. Those concerns should never be dismissed. At the same time, meaningful progress requires that individual incidents be evaluated on their specific facts rather than on predetermined conclusions based solely upon the race of the individuals or officers involved.
The Board encourages the public, the media, law-enforcement leadership, and community stakeholders to allow these incidents to undergo the appropriate review process and to consider all available evidence before reaching definitive conclusions.
The Board remains committed to constitutional and professional policing, equal treatment under the law, transparency, accountability, public safety, and the dignity of every person involved in an encounter with law enforcement.
Board of Directors
Arkansas Louis Bryant Chapter,
National Black State Troopers Coalition
September 2, 2026