Portrait of lawman Bass Reeves unveiled at Arkansas State Capitol

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston unveiled a portrait of historical figure and famous Arkansan Bass Reeves at the Arkansas State Capitol on Wednesday.

In cooperation with Secretary of State John Thurston, the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith specially commissioned this portrait of Bass Reeves, Deputy United States Marshal. The portrait, painted by artist James Loveless, can be viewed in the first floor rotunda, along with a special historical exhibit put together by our Capitol curators.

The legend of Bass Reeves has grown in recent years with books, movies, and television shows bringing his dynamic life story into popular culture. Reeves will be the first non-governor and the first African-American to have an official portrait hanging in the Arkansas State Capitol.

“I am excited to unveil this work of art, showcasing an Arkansas legend in a place of honor in our state’s Capitol,” said Thurston. “His is a chapter of American history that many may not know.”

Thurston’s office also gives a special thanks to the U.S.

Marshals Museum in Fort Smith and others for their financial support of this portrait.

Bass Reeves is today considered one of the most widely recognized and prolific deputy U.S. Marshals of the 1800s. Born into slavery around 1840 in Crawford County, Reeves’s extraordinary reputation during his long career made him a legendary figure in law enforcement history.

Following the end of the American Civil War, Reeves, who was familiar with several Native American languages and customs, worked as a scout and tracker in Indian Territory for the Federal court system. Reeves became one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi River in the mid-1870s when he was commissioned

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as a U.S. Deputy Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith, although there is no official record of his initial appointment. His first documented Oath of Office was taken on May 29, 1889.

Reeves was assigned to serve the Eastern District of Texas from 1893 until 1897. That year, he was transferred again to the northern district of Indian Territory, taking another Oath of Office on April 1, 1898, in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

After Oklahoma gained statehood in 1907, Reeves retired from federal service and became a police officer in Muskogee, where he continued to serve until his death on January 12, 1910. He is believed to be buried in the Harding Memorial Cemetery in Muskogee.

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BRTC breaks ground for new LETA barracks

Arkansas Gov Sarah Huckabee Sanders was the keynote speaker for the Black River Technical College groundbreaking ceremony held Dec.

13.

During her speech she showed her deep appreciation for Arkansas law enforcement, and commended BRTC’s Law Enforcement Training Academy for all of their hard work and their contribution to the law enforcement community in Arkansas. Also speaking with Gov. Sanders was BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger, Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training Director Chris Chapmond, and Arkansas Sen. Blake Johnson.

“The facility we’re breaking ground for will not only provide generations of future law enforcement officers with the training and resources they need to serve and protect our communities effectively, but it will also symbolize a legacy of commitment to fostering a safer, stronger Arkansas,” Eggensperger said.

The Law Enforcement Training Academy at BRTC is the only training academy affiliated with a college in the state of Arkansas. The academy mainly serves Northeast Arkansas but they have had officers from all across the state attend the program.

LETA trains around 120 officers a year from local stations and sheriff’s offices, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Police, and other local and state agencies.

For many officers attending the academy traveling can become a major problem. Due to some officers living in other areas of the state it is not practical for them to drive home every day. In the past, to help with the stress of travel, BRTC has rented local motels for officers to stay in during the school week. Motel rent alone was the program’s second highest budget item.

BRTC believes having oncampus facilities would not only take care of rental costs, but would benefit the wellbeing of the officers and the program.

In order to build the barracks BRTC received $4.7 million from the Arkansas State and Local Recovery Funds distributed by the American Rescue Plan Act. The money has enabled BRTC to begin construction of a two-story living facility for officers attending the academy. The barracks will be able to house 60 students and four faculty members. They will also be able to house guest instructors from FEMA, U.S. Secret Service, ATF, FBI, CJI, and Arkansas State Police. The barracks were designed by Brackett-Kennerich Architects and are being constructed by Clark General Contractors, Inc.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Training Academy visit https://blackrivertech.edu/college- coursework/ academicunits/ service -programs/leta/.