December 12, 2023

Two Arkansas State Troopers will share the 2023 State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, which is given annually to recognize police officers who go above and beyond the call of duty. This award and other statewide awards were presented by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin during ceremonies today at the Benton Events Center. 

This year, Senior Corporal David Smothers and Special Agent Matt Foster were selected.

In July of 2023, Smothers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-40. While talking to the occupants of the vehicle, a man and woman, Smothers noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. After searching the vehicle, Smothers found a fully automatic pistol, more than 42 grams of marijuana, methamphetamine, and a fully automatic firearm. Additional items located during the search led Smothers to suspect the female was possibly being trafficked. Smothers contacted Special Agent Matt Foster who has extensive training in recognizing and identifying victims of human trafficking.

Foster conducted a lengthy interview with the woman, where she admitted to being trafficked across multiple states since February of 2023. Foster was able to get her admitted into a facility that specialized in recovery from human trafficking and drug use. When she was interviewed by Foster, she said that what she wanted most was to have a normal life, where she could do simple things like watch television with her child.

Smothers recognized the signs that she was being trafficked and took the care that was necessary for a positive outcome. In August, a federal agency notified ASP that the weapon Smothers seized was linked to two unsolved murders in Louisiana. 

Smothers and Foster put the victim first in this investigation, which saved her life.

During the ceremony, both Smothers and Foster were also awarded Northwest Regional Officer of the Year, and Senior Special Agent Aundrae Mack was named Southeast Regional winner.

In all, Troopers from 31 of Arkansas’ 75 counties were recognized and awarded county-level Law Enforcement Officer of Year. These Troopers, along with officers from local and other state agencies, were recognized for dedication to their communities where they are assigned to serve.

Troopers who received County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year:

Benton County
Trooper Zenda Staab

Calhoun County
Trooper First Class Justin Starnes

Chicot County
Trooper Christian Morphis

Clay County
Trooper Richard Drum

Cleveland County
Trooper First Class TreVaughn Moore

Columbia County
Corporal Adam Pinner

Craighead County
Trooper First Class Tanner Middlecoff

Crawford County
Corporal Chris Short

Crittenden County
Trooper Garrett Byrd

Dallas County
Trooper First Class Jimmy Plyler Jr.

Drew County
Trooper Tyler Grant

Faulkner County
Trooper Tyler Langley

Franklin County
Trooper First Class Mason Redding

Fulton County
Sergeant Justin Nowlin

Greene County
Special Agent Anthony Hill

Independence County
Special Agent Sean Riegle

Johnson County
Senior Corporal David Smothers (Northwest Regional Winner)

Lawrence County
Trooper Isaac Lawson

Lee County
Senior Special Agent Aundrae Mack (Southeast Regional Winner)

Lonoke County
Trooper Cody Martin

Miller County
Trooper Solomon Phifer

Monroe County
Special Agent Rodney Davenport

Phillips County
Special Agent Scott Troy

Poinsett County
Trooper First Class Tommy Fitzgerald

Pope County
Special Agent Matt Foster (Northwest Regional Winner)

Randolph County
Corporal Nicholas Poulsen

Scott County
Corporal Mike Lance

Sebastian County
Corporal Josh Porter

Sharp County
Corporal Moye E. Hawkins

Union County
Trooper Justin Harper

Woodruff County
Corporal Kurt Ziegenhorn