Trooper Hunter Grubbs was named 2025 Statewide Officer of the Year at the 23rd annual Officer of the Year Awards ceremony held at the Benton Events Center on Thursday. Grubbs, who also received recognition as the Southwest Regional winner, was honored for his outstanding service to public safety.
The event, hosted by Attorney General Tim Griffin, celebrates the achievements of law enforcement professionals across Arkansas. In addition to Grubbs, several other officers were recognized for their contributions, including Corporal Marcus Simpson, Corporal Chris Barnett, and Corporal Dustin Carpenter, who were named Northeast Regional winners. Special Agent Dustin Thompson was recognized as the Central Regional winner.
In total, 35 Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers received county-level awards for their work throughout the year. The awards highlight exceptional performance in areas such as criminal investigations, traffic safety, community engagement, and critical incident response.
“We are proud of our Troopers who continue to set the standard for integrity, bravery, and service,” said Colonel Mike Hagar, Director of the Arkansas State Police. “These honorees represent the very best of our agency and law enforcement profession. We appreciate Attorney General Griffin’s commitment to honoring these officers and thanking their families for their service to the state.”
Several officers from Deltaplex area counties were recognized for their exceptional contributions:
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Dallas County – Trooper James Reed
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Drew County – Trooper Alan Butler
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Grant County – Corporal Harlee Robinson
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Jefferson County – Special Agent Dustin Thompson
Other county-level honorees include:
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Baxter County: Special Agent Aaron Middleton
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Chicot County: Trooper David Menotti
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Clark County: Trooper Sean Weston
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Clay County: Trooper Christian Underwood
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Columbia County: Trooper First Class Brian Palmer
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Conway County: Special Agent Kristen Dumont
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Crittenden County: Senior Special Agent Aundrae Mack
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Cross County: Trooper First Class Blake Irvin
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Garland County: Trooper Hunter Grubbs
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Greene County: Trooper Richard Drum
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Hot Spring County: Trooper John Crow
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Howard County: Trooper Micah Brown
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Izard County: Special Agent Drew Widner
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Jackson County: Corporals Marcus Simpson, Chris Barnett, and Dustin Carpenter
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Lawrence County: Trooper First Class Isaac Lawson
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Lee County: Trooper Dillon Pigue’
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Mississippi County: Trooper First Class Blaine Middlecoff
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Nevada County: Corporal Christina Bussey
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Newton County: Senior Special Agent Becky Vacco
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Perry County: Corporal Seth Race
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Pike County: Special Agent Christopher Harper
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Poinsett County: Trooper Nash Thomas
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Polk County: Corporal Bo Hayes
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Pulaski County: Corporal David Harrell
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Randolph County: Corporal Zachary Paschal
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Scott County: Corporal Billy Turnipseed
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Searcy County: Special Agent Paul Robson
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Sharp County: Trooper First Class Quinton Maag
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White County: Special Agent Jeremy Hughes
These officers were selected for their outstanding service, leadership, and impact on the communities they serve.
