Northwest Arkansas is among the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, recognized for its high quality of life, excellent urban amenities and quick access to all of the outdoor places one would expect to find in The Natural State.
We’re determined to make our community even better, and that’s why law enforcement agencies in Northwest Arkansas are working collaboratively to bring new talent to our region’s police departments.
Our region of about 550,000 people has 27 police departments and two sheriff’s offices. Because the population increases by about 35 people a day in Northwest Arkansas, the departments must constantly recruit new officers, deputies, dispatchers and jailers to ensure Northwest Arkansas maintains its low crime rate.
If you’re interested in a law enforcement career in a place where the people who protect our communities have the respect of the people they serve, Northwest Arkansas is a great opportunity, and it’s a place where you’ll find the perfect work-life balance. We’d love to connect!
We need police officers who come right out of college, people transitioning out of the military and those interested in a mid-career move to a new place.
You can view current job openings and start applying across the region by clicking on the department logos below. If you’d like to connect 1-on-1 with a Northwest Arkansas Talent Ambassador to learn more about this effort and what it’s like to live and work in Northwest Arkansas, click the button below the logos.
Six law enforcement agencies are collaborating in a new way to bring new talent to their agencies in Northwest Arkansas. Those agencies are the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the city police departments in Bella Vista, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale.
All of these agencies have job openings. They routinely work together on investigations, at major incidents and in other ways, so it makes sense for them to combine forces to share information with job candidates about what it’s like to do police work in Northwest Arkansas.
The new recruiting partnership, which is being coordinated by the Northwest Arkansas Council, is focused on recruiting people who live far from Northwest Arkansas. Rather than recruiting from one another or from police departments in nearby states, we’ll be intentional in pursuing talent from California, Colorado, Michigan, Texas and other places that are markedly different than Northwest Arkansas.
In 2024, these six agencies will send recruiting teams representing multiple police agencies to law enforcement expos organized by Reliant Hiring Solutions. The Reliant expos give recruiters a chance to meet with exceptional people who may be interested in law enforcement careers in our region.
The Northwest Arkansas team will have representatives at the expos, starting in March 2024.
There are more than 10,000 open positions in the region, including more than 100 for police officers, dispatchers, jailers and support staff. Check out our Talent Network to learn about new NWA job opportunities.
Search HereResidents enjoy a variety of housing options, from historic districts with tree-lined streets to modern downtown apartments, suburban houses and gated communities, making it an ideal place to call home for people of all ages and lifestyles.
Search HereBecoming a certified law enforcement officer in the state of Arkansas is a high achievement and encompasses certain requirements. The standards stem from CLEST, the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, established in 1975. The minimum requirements include possessing a valid driver’s license, being free of a felony record, being examined by a licensed physician to meet the physical and psychological requirements of the job and being of good character as determined by a thorough background investigation. Depending upon prior experience, uncertified officers will go through the ALETA (Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy) program for a duration of 13 weeks. In the 13 weeks, officers will become trained in various programs like SSGT (Strategic Self-Defense and Gun-Fighting Tactics), SFST (Standardized Field Sobriety Tests) training, and Arkansas Laws and Statutes. Those officers will then become certified upon ALETA graduation and will embark on their journey at their department.
Safe schools. The public and private schools in Northwest Arkansas and among the very best in the state, and they are often recognized by U.S. News & World Report as some of the nation’s best. Many schools have police resource officers, and their interactions with students and teachers are mostly positive ones.
Art, museums and music. Crystal Bridges is recognized as the most important American art museums to open in this century. Its satellite property, The Momentary, is a contemporary art space that opened in 2020. The Walton Arts Center, TheatreSquared and the Walmart AMP contribute to the amazing music and theatre offerings in the region.
The outdoors. If you haven’t heard of Hawksbill Crag, check it out. You’ll be amazed. It’s 60 miles away from the center of the most urbanized area of Northwest Arkansas, and getting to it is half the fun. You know about Beaver Lake and that Bentonville is recognized as the Mountain Bike Capital of the World, right? It’s no exaggeration!
We know many police officers have spouses and partners, and the Northwest Arkansas Council is interested in supporting their move to our region, too. Our nonprofit organization has strong connections with the HR teams at Northwest Arkansas-based Fortune 500 companies (Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Services). We’re also well-positioned to make introductions for people who want to work in law enforcement/criminal justice, health care, education, manufacturing and any number of other career fields.
Northwest Arkansas certainly needs police officers, but we have more than 10,000 other open positions. You have the Northwest Arkansas Council’s commitment that we’ll share your resume and do our best to connect police officers’ spouses and partners with the right people.
There are more than 10,000 open positions in the region, including about 100 for police officers, dispatchers, jailers and support staff. Several of our region’s cities have been approved to add officers in the past two years, but they’ve been unable to find the talent they need to fill those positions. Check out our Talent Network to learn about new NWA job opportunities.
With nearly 10,000 open positions and an exceedingly low unemployment rate, we’re looking for new residents and workers to add to the vibrancy of our growing communities and economy. Our region is adding more than 30 people a day to its population, and Northwest Arkansas needs more people from all career backgrounds to meet the needs of the newcomers and everyone who already lives here.
We’d love to learn more and help you make the best of your visit!
