Four officers were promoted in rank during a ceremony Monday morning at the Benton Police Department. Chief Scotty Hodges said all four officers earned their promotions through hard work and dedication to serving the community. Benton Mayor David Mattingly said the four officers are great examples of strong leadership, and that promotions boost the morale of officers’ department wide.
The four officers promoted were: Jeff Besancon from Captain to Assistant Chief, Patrick Baker from Lieutenant to Captain, Eric Haworth from Lieutenant to Captain, and Doug Speer from Detective to Sergeant.
Assistant Chief Jeff Besancon – The son of Eugene Besancon of Bryant and Linda Besancon of Salem, the assistant chief was born in Little Rock, Ark. Upon graduation from Bryant High School in 1984, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served the country until 1989.
Besancon began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Orange Police Department in Orange, California as a Civilian Accident Investigator. He also attended Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana, California.
In 1993, Besancon moved back to Arkansas and began working for the Benton Police Department as a Police Officer in the Patrol Division. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1998, and in 2001 he was promoted to Lieutenant. While in both the Sergeant and Lieutenant ranks, he served in the Criminal Investigation Division and the Patrol Division. In 2006, Besancon earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. In 2007, he was promoted to Captain of the Patrol and Investigation divisions, and on Sept. 18, 2017, he was promoted to Assistant Police Chief.
During his career, Assistant Chief Besancon has received many awards, including being a co-recipient of the 2013 Unit Achievement Award for his work in the Criminal Investigations Division. He was a recipient of the Benton Police Department Leadership Award in 2010. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2007.
Assistant Chief Jeff Besancon and wife DeLane have two sons, Dakota and Trent; a daughter, Somer; and a granddaughter, Chloe.
Captain Eric Haworth – Captain Haworth was born in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from Montgomery County High School in Missouri. Upon graduating in 1996, he joined the U.S. Army and served the country until 1999. In 2000, Captain Haworth began his law enforcement career as a Patrol Officer for the Benton Police Department. In 2001, he transferred to the department’s Bike Patrol Division, but later transferred back to the Patrol Division.
In 2007, he transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective. In 2008, he was selected to represent the Benton Police Department as a Task Force Officer assigned to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He later transferred to the Benton Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 2013 and assigned to the Patrol Division. In 2015, he was again transferred to the Special Investigations Unit, until he was promoted to Lieutenant that same year and transferred back to the Patrol Division. In 2016, he was transferred back to the Special Investigations Unit.
During his career, Captain Haworth has been recognized with many awards, including the department’s Top Gun Award in 2012 and 2015. He received the department’s Meritorious Award in 2012 and the Leadership Award in 2014.
Captain Haworth is a DEA Drug Unit Commander graduate and currently serves as the SWAT Team Commander. He also completed the Narcotics Officer Certificate Program, Arkansas Leadership Program, Advanced Supervision and Leadership Program, and the School of Law Enforcement Supervision.
He and wife Michelle have two sons, Brayden and Logan.
Captain Patrick Baker – The son of Jesse and Rosa Baker of North Little Rock, Captain Baker graduated from Catholic High School in 1994. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1999, Captain Baker began his law enforcement career as a Patrol Officer for the Benton Police Department.
In 2001, he transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division. In 2008, he was promoted to Sergeant of the Criminal Investigations Division. In 2015, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the Professional Standards Division. Captain Baker is also a member of the department’s Accident Reconstruction Team.
In 2013, Captain Baker was a co-recipient of the 2013 Unit Achievement Award for his role in the Criminal Investigations Division. During his career, he has completed the Crime Scene Technician Certificate Program, Advanced Crime Scene Technician Certificate Program and School of Law Enforcement Supervision through the Criminal Justice Institute in Little Rock. Captain Baker is also slated to attend the FBI National Academy in 2018.
Captain Baker and wife Robyn have two children, Eleanor and Vance.
Sergeant Doug Speer – Upon graduation from J.A. Fair High School in 2003, Sgt. Speer joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served the country for four years. In 2008, his law enforcement career started at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, and was hired by the Benton Police Department as a Patrol Officer the same year. He was transferred to the department’s Criminal Investigation Division in 2014.
Sgt. Speer is a member of the department’s SWAT Team and Honor Guard.
