Moving On Up
Benton PD officers receive promotions
The Benton Police Department recently announced promotions for Sgts. Andrew Talbot and Jeff Parsons.
“(They) have competed in a promotional process and have made themselves ready to move forward in the new phase of their professional career,” said Chief Scotty Hodges. “They have made the decision to be leaders in our organization and within our community.”
Hodges said both men realize that the path ahead will not be an easy road, but that both are ready for the challenge.
“Gentlemen, you have to be committed,” Hodges said. “You have to be committed to this department. You have to be committed to this city. You have to be committed to your supervisors, administrative personnel and your family. They are a huge part of why we are here today.”
Hodges told the officers that leadership requires followers and that they will have followers whether they like it or not. Both men were challenged by Hodges to “be a good man at all times”.
“You are a leader within this department and within this city and I expect you to act like leaders at all times,” Hodges said. “It is your job to ask questions and to ensure that your officers are doing the right things and that they know the right things to do.”
Both men were also challenged to make sure their officers were operating in the safest way
possible and to make sure their actions are ethical, legal and safe. He added that the officers should protect the residents of Benton along with protecting the department and their fellow officers.
“If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask,” Hodges said. “Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know the answer because you’re not going to know all the answers. It’s your job to teach your subordinates, but you’re going to learn from them, too. They have a lot to teach you.”
While Hodges acknowledged that they may make mistakes in their new roles, it’s how they learn from those mistakes that matters most.
“You will be responsible for the success or failure of your shifts,” Hodges said. “It’s your shift and you set the tone for your shift. If your shift is happy, it’s because of you. If your shift has a morale issue, it’s because of you. You have the power to control your shift.”
Compassion and empathy for fellow officers are essential, according to Hodges, but they must also hold their officers accountable.
“I want you both to know that I expect a lot out of you two,” Hodges said. “A lot.
It’s not something I don’t think you can accomplish or I wouldn’t have put you in this position.”
According to Hodges, he knows Benton officers are already held to a high standard and told both men that the bar has now been raised for both of them.
“Now you are held to even higher standards,” Hodges said. “The command staff and I have discussed it and we have the utmost confidence that you can exceed those expectations. The stripes that you are wearing today come with a lot of responsibility and a lot of accountability.”
Hodges also spoke about one key factor that defines what it means to be in their positions.
“I believe integrity is something we learn at a young age,”Hodges said. “This job is all about integrity. If you don’t have integrity, you don’t have this job.”
Talbot graduated from Beardon High School in
2002 and then attended Henderson State University.
He began his law enforcement career with BNPD in 2008 where he was assigned to the patrol division. He transferred to the Special Investigation Unit as a detective in July 2011.
In 2013, he was transferred back to the patrol division. He became a Field Training Officer in 2015. Additionally, Talbot worked as a school resource officer.
He is married to his wife Carlie. The couple has two children.
Parsons graduated from Benton High School in 1999 and then attended UA-Little Rock.
Parsons became a cadet with BNPD in May 2000 and began his law enforcement career with the department in July 2002 and was assigned to the patrol division.
A year after becoming a Field Training Officer in 2005, Parsons became a K-9 officer. He transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department as a detective in December 2008 and then to the Special Investigations Unit in 2009 as a detective
Parsons left BNPD in
2011 to work with the Union Pacific Police as a special agent. He rejoined the
BNPD in 2018
He is married to his wife Christina and they have one child.
“We thank you for what you’re about to do and what you’ve done in the past because it’s a great honor,” said Benton Mayor Tom Farmer. “I want to challenge them to continue doing the great work they do. Just because you get a promotion doesn’t mean you can sit back. It means you work even harder.”