About | Elect Sheriff Mike McCormick

Sheriff Garland County Arkansas

What are the designated duties of a Sheriff?

Here's a summary of the Sheriff's position and role in Arkansas:

Chief Law Enforcement Officer: The Sheriff serves as the county's primary law enforcement officer, responsible for maintaining public peace, protecting life and property, preventing and investigating criminal activity, and apprehending offenders.
Independent Office: The Office of Sheriff in Arkansas is a statutory and/or constitutional office with powers and authority derived from state law and/or the state constitution.
Elected Official: The Sheriff is elected by the citizens of the county and is directly accountable to them. The term of office is typically four years.
Court Enforcement Officer: The Sheriff is charged with executing summonses, enforcing judgments, orders, and warrants issued by the circuit and chancery courts.
County Jail Administrator: The Sheriff is responsible for managing the county jail.
Relationship with Quorum Court: While the Sheriff relies on the Quorum Court (the county's legislative body) for funding and budget approval, they are generally independent in managing their office.
Law Enforcement Jurisdiction: The Sheriff and their deputies primarily operate within the geographical boundaries of their specific county.

Meet Sheriff Mike McCormick

Biography

Mike McCormick became the Garland County Sheriff on Jan. 1, 2015. Sheriff McCormick was elected to the post in November 2014 after promising greater professionalism, experience, and independence.

Patrol Duties

Sheriff McCormick has successfully increased the number of patrol duties without additional funding from the County and improved the Criminal Investigations Division, leading to more solved crimes and more convictions. Sheriff McCormick emphasizes professionalism, transparency, and proper training and equipment for GCSO employees.

Experience

Sheriff McCormick is a professional law enforcement officer with more than 30 years of experience in Garland County. A Garland County resident since 1981, McCormick started his Arkansas law enforcement career at the Sheriff's Office before progressing through the ranks at the Hot Springs Police Department. McCormick served the department as a Patrol Officer, Sergeant of the Patrol Division, Lieutenant and Patrol Shift Commander, Captain and Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division, and Interim Chief of Police.

Certification

Sheriff McCormick is a certified law enforcement officer who holds a senior certificate from the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Training and Standards -- the highest certification level possible in Arkansas. He is a graduate of Arkansas Leader Command Training, Law Enforcement School of Supervision at the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute and Leadership of Hot Springs.

History

Growing up in a military family, the Sheriff was born in Great Britain and graduated high school and college in South Dakota. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Among his many achievements and awards are a Congressional Letter of Recognition and eight Outstanding Achievement Awards from the Hot Springs Police Department. McCormick was acknowledged three times for Outstanding Community Service by the Arkansas Secretary of State.

Accomplishments

These lists show why we need to re-elect Sheriff Mike McCormick

to lead the Garland County Law Enforcement

Law Enforment

Computers in every patrol unit
Body and Dash Cameras
Step Program
FTO Program
Computer Voice Stress Analyzer and Polyraph
Patrol rifles in every patrol unit
Police Memorial upgrade
Shooting Range
MRAP for TRT and Rescue Operations
Competitive Pay
Employee of the Month Program highlighting employees
Facial Recognition system for CID
Upgraded Marine Patrol fleet/equipment (Boat)
Arkansas Leader and School of Law Enforcement Supervision for supervisors Mandatory College for all Supervisors
Certificate Pay incentive
Drug Recognition Expert Program
Mandatory SFST and ARIDE Certification Patrol Deputies
Drug Endangered Children Program
Implemented the SRO program (Still have on at NPCC)

Detention

National Recognitions
Certified Jail Deputy Certificate Program
Certified Jail Manager Certificate Program
Phone System Upgrades
Commissary upgrades
Inmate Grievance System Upgrade
Competitive pay
ZERO escapes
Get numbers for GED graduates and Drug program graduates
"Quail Forever program" is designed for or implemented within detention centers. Quail Forever focuses on youth education and outreach, including programs like the Youth Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program and Learn to Hunt events.

Detention Center Overview

The GCSO Detention Center leadership and staff were successful in sustaining certifications and demonstrating advanced operations. Staff retention proved challenging while operating under a continuous emergency state, however retention efforts continue through trainings and staff recognitions. The Detention Center leaders continue to receive inquiries from operators of other detention facilities statewide.

Highlights

Since occupying the facility in 2015, the Garland County Detention Center has established itself as the elite facility in the State of Arkansas due to professionalism, discipline, and structure. In addition to the many accomplishments taking place on a daily basis, the following are a few recognitions which the facility has received:

Awards

• Leading the State in professional Certified Jail Managers who are professionally trained and confirmed qualified in jail management. This certification is granted upon the successful completion of a rigid application and an intensive four-hour examination jointly prepared by the American Jail Association and the Jail Manager Certification Commission.
• Leading the Nation in professional Certified Jail Officers. Awarded to line staff and first-line jail supervisors upon the completion of a three-hour examination which tests for competency and mastery of jail operation knowledge and skills at the line and first line supervisory levels. Ranked ist nationally amongst other detention centers for the number of certified professionals through the ranks as depicted by the American Jail Association.
• The Garland County Adult and Juvenile Detention Centers remain the first and only facilities in the State to be fully compliant with the Department of Justice PREA Standards.
• Accredited through the American Correctional Association. Only 3% of jails nationwide have achieved this endeavor.
• Received national acknowledgments through professional organizations to include the National Institute of Corrections, American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee news and U.S. News and World Report.
• Demo site for the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture.
• Received 100% compliance each year through the Jail Standards Review Committee Audit since 2015.
• Retain yearly attendance with the National Jail Leadership Command Academy, heightening the level or professionally trained staff throughout the ranks.
• Recognized by the Jail Standards Review Committee as operating the States leading programs/services department.
• Sustaining a first-rate facility preventative maintenance program; which compared against 1200 other government type facilities ranked above the top 20% in work order completions per year per technician.
• Striving daily to exceed the standards set forth by the local, state, and federal entities.