Police Department
Main Phone Number 501-843-6351

Police Chief: Steve Benton
Administrative Specialist: Martha Hill
Dispatcher: Barbara Claxton 
 

On behalf of the Ward Police Department I would like to welcome you to our webpage. The Ward Police Department’s Mission statement states our commitment to protect and serve our community in the most professional and compassionate manner possible.

Mission Statement:
The Ward Police Department is committed to serving and protecting the citizens and visitors of the City of Ward. Our Mission is to protect life and property, prevent crime, and provide service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision.

Ward Police Department Go High Tech to Search for Missing Children

Ward, AR - In 2011 former Police Chief Charlie Martin had formalized an agreement with the A Child Is Missing Alert Program that has led to a high tech method now in place to search locally for missing children, missing elderly (often with Alzheimer’s), college students, and missing persons who may be mentally or physically challenged or disabled.

Effective immediately, upon receipt of missing person’s calls, the Ward Police Department will make its first phone call to a toll-free number that rings in Fort Lauderdale, Florida—the national headquarters of the A Child Is Missing Alert Program. The call, answered 24/7/365 by an Information and Mapping Technician, initiates a rapid process of information gathering and use of sophisticated mapping systems. A Child Is Missing then launches potentially thousands of calls within minutes with an alert message detailing the missing person’s description, last known whereabouts, and pertinent information. This alert message will also include a Ward Police Department phone number for use by anyone with information relating to the missing person.

This program is a free service to law enforcement. Ward Police Department officials will evaluate each potential activation of the A Child Is Missing Alert Program to ensure the application is appropriate to the case and to ensure the system is optimally used. Policies, procedures, and employee training will also guide the most efficient and effective use of this Alert Program.

Phone numbers that are called by this program include listed numbers and mobile numbers available to ACIM in the selected area. Mobile numbers, unlisted numbers, broadband/voice-over IP numbers, or TDD/TTY devices can be added to ensure they, too, are called in the event of an alert. To enter your cell phone, unlisted, broadband/voice-over IP or TDD/TTY device number visit www.achildismissing.org and click on “add your name” to enter your name, number, and address. This information will only be used for emergency message alerts.

A Child Is Missing is a nationwide non-profit organization that helps law enforcement agencies locate missing children, missing elderly persons (often suffering from Alzheimer’s), college students, and missing persons who are mentally or physically challenged or disabled. A Child is Missing utilizes sophisticated computer mapping systems and trained technicians with the capacity to place 1,000 alert phone calls in one minute to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing. To date the efforts of A Child Is Missing have been credited with more than 850 safe assisted recoveries.

The Ward Police Department has adopted a special new program it’s offering to the community called “Take Me Home.”

“Take Me Home” is a database developed by the Pensacola (Florida) Police Department for people who may need special assistance if they are alone or in times of emergency.

This kind of assistance may be required if the person is unable to speak or properly identify themselves, or if they become disoriented or act in a manner that could be misinterpreted by first responders.

The system includes a current digital picture, demographic information and caregiver contacts. If a person in the “Take Me Home” system is encountered by a police officer, the officer can query the system, searching by name or by the person’s physical description. Once the individual’s record has been located the officer has the information at hand to appropriately assist the person.

The “Take Me Home” system is a database that is maintained at the Ward Police Department. The system and enrollment are free to the department and to participants. Eligible participants must have a parent or legal guardian complete a registration form and provide a current digital photo. Eligible participants are persons with Alzheimer, autistic, deaf, mentally disabled, or any other disabilities that keeps a person from speaking or properly identify themselves.

For questions, or to enroll a participant, call Lt. Eric Sims, Det. Michele Scroggins at (501) 843-6351 or send an email to the Chief of Police at: stevebenton@cityofward.com.

Thank you,
Lt. Eric D. Sims
Ward Police Department