TAPD chief says friends tipped him off to job opening

TEXARKANA, Ark.— Texarkana Arkansas Police Chief Robert Harrison applied for the police chief’s position in Hot Springs, Arkansas, after he was approached by friends from Hot Springs who suggested he would be a good fit for the job.

“When the position of Hot Springs police chief came open, I was made aware of it. I called and asked about it and they asked if I would apply because of the experience I had with the gang issues in Texarkana in the 90s. Then, after that, I received two more calls about it,” Harrison said Tuesday.

The opening for Hot Springs police chief drew 30 applicants, which included enough qualified candidates to begin the selection process, according to city officials.

Harrison has been with TAPD since 1973 and has been chief of police since 1990. He holds a master’s degree from Texarkana A&M University-Texarkana. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and serves as chairman of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.

More than a dozen states were represented

in the applicant pool, which included seven Arkansas candidates.

The new chief will succeed Jason Stachey, who announced his retirement effective May 29 — in April.

Harrison said he expects the field to be narrowed to a shortlist of candidates by early next week.

In recent years, Harrison has been in the running for the position of United States Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas but was ultimately not chosen for that position.

Though he is pursuing other opportunities, Harrison said it will also be hard to leave Texarkana.

“This department is my family and that would be very difficult. Officers in both Texarkana, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas, have been very supportive of me.,” Harrison said. “The citizens of Texarkana have also and it has been very much appreciated.”