Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Farmington PD Makes Changes
FARMINGTON — With the addition of two new officers at Farmington Police Department, others have been promoted to new positions.
John Collins, formerly the department’s detective, has been promoted to patrol sergeant. His son, Justin Collins, a patrol officer, has taken his place as detective.
New officers who recently came on board with the department are Michael McCaslin and Howard Bates.
John Collins, who lives in West Fork, joined Farmington in February 2016. He started law enforcement in 1996, worked for Washington County Sheriff’s Office for 10 years and then left to work as a security contractor for Halliburton in Iraq. Collins also has worked for West Fork Police Department as a patrol officer and chief of police.
He came to Farmington as a patrol officer, was promoted to corporal in 2017 and named detective in July 2018.
Justin Collins joined Farmington in November 2017. He has worked for Washington County Detention Center and worked as a police officer with Fayetteville Police Department for four years before coming to Farmington.
Justin Collins, who lives in Lincoln, said he was interested in being a detective because “it’s the heart of the job” and it will give him the opportunity to see a case through to the end.
“I’ve always been interested in seeing how cases are solved,” Collins said.
McCaslin has 18 years in law enforcement and was a tribal police officer in Oklahoma before coming to Farmington. He’s also worked with Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office and its SWAT team, Greenwood Police Department and as a private contractor and instructor for law enforcement and security.
He admits he is an “adrenaline junkie,” is a storm chaser with his son and likes the outdoors. McCaslin said he was interested in the Farmington position because he likes a smaller police department and wanted to move back to this area because of its outdoor amenities.
“This seems like a Godly, close-knit department,” McCaslin said. “I hope I can bring something to the community to help out.”
Bates has seven years working for law enforcement in Arkansas and four years’ experience with the military police. He is a combat veteran and served with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Prior to coming to Farmington, Bates worked for Paris Police Department as an investigating officer and as a deputy with Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
He applied for the Farmington police, he said, because he wanted to move to Northwest Arkansas for better opportunities for himself and his two sons.
Bates said he has been interested in law enforcement as a career since he was a child. A local game enforcement agent interested him in the career when he was growing up in Paris, he added.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” Bates said.
Bates joined Farmington police on Feb. 12 and said he likes everything he’s seen so far.
“Everything I wanted Paris to be, Farmington is, as far as professionalism and equipment,” Bates said. “As far as law enforcement, it’s all about professionalism.”
Bates has only one-half semester left to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He plans to finish his degree at the University of Arkansas. He also adds, “I’m a huge Razorback fan.”
Other hobbies are bow hunting and bass fishing.
Capt. Mike Wilbanks said the police department received 15 applications for the two positions. Officials liked both McCaslin and Bates, Wilbanks said, because they “seemed to be a good fit for our city and department.”
Wilbanks said both candidates demonstrated maturity and professionalism during their interviews and showed that they believed “in doing the job the right way.”
Wilbanks said Justin Collins was promoted to detective for many reasons. “He’s relentless, thorough and investigative,” Wilbanks said, adding, “He is a very, very smart young man.”
Along with new people and new promotions, Farmington police officers also started the year with new point-of-view cameras. The new Axon Flex 2 cameras replace ones that were seven years old. They provide a wider angle and are a newer model of what the department was using.
Desk Sgt. Michael Thompson said police policy requires all officers to wear the cameras while on duty. After finishing a shift, the camera is placed into a docking station and all video is automatically downloaded to a secure site maintained by Axon.