The Benton Police Department started 2016 off by promoting the rank of six officers. The six officers promoted were: Detective Jeremy Riedmueller to Sergeant, Officer Hunter Begoon to Sergeant, Sgt. Don Robertson to Lieutenant, Sgt. Patrick Baker to Lieutenant, Lt. Kevin Russell to Captain, and Captain Scotty Hodges to Assistant Chief of Police.
“Today is a milestone for this police department and for these officers in their careers,” Chief Kirk Lane said. “They’ve had an integral part of building and shaping this department in the past and taking this department where it’s going in the future.”
Lane gave credit and thanked Mayor David Mattingly for sharing a vision and a plan for the department which has led to today’s success and future success. The chief also thanked the Benton residents for believing in the department’s vision and trusting their officers.
“With our citizens we were able to achieve great things and take this police department to a place that we haven’t been before,” Lane said. “We stand committed to be molded by our community to provide the highest level of services that they require and what they want us to be.”
Officer Bios:
• Sgt. Jeremy Riedmueller – He began his career in law enforcement in September of 1998 with the Fayetteville Police Department. After working for the Pottsville and Russellville police departments, Riedmueller came to work for the Benton Police Department on June 26, 2006, as a patrol officer. In January of 2008, Riedmueller transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division and assumed detective duties. While in CID, He received specialized training in various types of investigations. He completed both the Crime Scene Technician Certificate program and Advanced Crime Scene Technician Certificate program through the Criminal Justice Institute in Little Rock.
The son of Phyllis and Allen Riedmueller of Russellville, Jeremy Riedmueller graduated from Pottsville High School in Pottsville, Ark. and attended Arkansas Tech University from August 1994 to December 1997 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science.
Riedmueller was a co-recipient for the 2013 Unit Achievement Award for his work in the Criminal Investigation Division. He was recently recognized by FBI for assisting in the capture of Richard Wayne Swicegood aka the "Lone Ranger Bandit" who committed 13 armed bank robberies in Arkansas and Texas (including Summit Bank in Benton). Riedmueller and his wife Jennifer have two children.
Riedmueller will assume the duties of Patrol Division Sergeant in his promotion.
• Sgt. Hunter Begoon – The son of Garry and Glenda of Benton, Begoon began working for the BNPD on Oct. 25, 2004, as a cadet. He was sworn in as an officers and assumed the duties of a patrol officer in October 2006. In December 2014, Begoon was assigned to the BICEP Unit handling K-9 Ares.
Begoon received the 2014 BNPD’s Meritorious Service Award and the Top Gun Award for 2009, 2011, and 2013. He and wife Tara have one son. In his promotion, Begoon will assume the duties of a Patrol Sergeant.
• Lt. Don Robertson – The son of Carolyn Robertson of Benton and the late Gary Robertson, Sr. of Alma, Robertson joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, Ark. Robertson is currently a Senior Chief in the Navy Reserves with 21-years of service. He graduated from Garland County Community College in 1998 with an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and graduated Bellevue University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.
Robertson began working for the Benton Police Department on Oct. 12, 1998 as a patrol officer. In 2005, he was deployed to the United Arab Emirates with Operation Enduring Freedom. Robertson returned to the Patrol Division in May 2006 and transferred to CID February 2011. He was promoted to Sergeant in February 2014 and returned to the Patrol Division.
Robertson was a co-recipient for the 2013 Unit Achievement Award for his work in Criminal Division. He and wife Carrie have two daughters and Robertson serves as a church deacon. In his promotion as Lieutenant, Robertson will assume the duties of Patrol Lieutenant on Shift 3.
• Lt. Patrick Baker – The son of Jesse and Rosa Baker of North Little Rock, Patrick Baker graduated from Catholic High School in 1994. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1999. Baker began working for the BNPD in September 1999 and on Sept. 24, 2001, Baker was transferred to CID. On Feb. 2, 2008, Baker was promoted to Sergeant and continued his assignment in CID. In July 2015, Baker was assigned to the Patrol Division.
Baker is a member of the BNPD Accident Reconstruction Team and was a co-recipient for the 2013 Unit Achievement Award for his work in Criminal Division. He and wife Robyn have two children. Baker will assume the duties of Support Services in his promotion to Lieutenant.
• Capt. Kevin Russell – The son of Vonda Russell and the late Robert Russell of Benton, Kevin Russell was board in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He graduated from Harmony Grove High School in Haskell, and earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement from Henderson State University in May 1999. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2006 from UALR.
Russell began working for the BNPD as a patrol officer June 14, 1999. He transferred to the Bike Patrol Unit and assumed the duties of an officer in the C.O.P. Division in October 2001. In December 2003, Russell went back on patrol, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2007. He was also transferred to the Training Division in 2007. Russell was promoted to Lieutenant in June 2009 and has been the Support Services supervisor overseeing the Records, School Resource, Training, and Warrants divisions. He has also served as the Public Information Officer for seven years. Russell was named the 2014 BNPD Officer of the Year, he was the recipient of the 2011 BNPD Leadership Award, named the City of Benton’s Employee of the Month in December 2009, and was also named the City of Benton Employee of the Year in 2009. He and his wife Sara Beth have three children.
In his promotion, Russell will assume the duties of patrol and dispatch division’s captain.
• Assistant Chief Scotty Hodges – The son of Jesse and Sue Hodges of Bossier City, LA., Scotty Hodges is the eighth member of his family to pursue a career as a law enforcement officer. He began working for the BNPD as a patrol officer on July 1, 1996. On April 9, 1999, he was promoted to patrol corporal. On July 24, 2000, Hodges was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and C.O.P. Sergeant. On Oct. 18, 2004, he was promoted to Lieutenant. During his tenure as Lieutenant, he served in every division of the department. On Nov. 30, 2012, Hodges was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Patrol Division and Communications.
Hodges received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Management from UALR. He is a graduate of the 240th session of the FBI National Academy. Hodges was named Officer of the Year in 1999 and was the recipient of the 2012 BNPD Leadership Award. He and wife Holly have five children.
