Hot Spring Co. Sheriff’s Office becoming 21st century department

Malvern, Arkansas – The Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office is advancing towards the future in part through having access to the past.

Body cameras have been introduced for the first time in the sheriff’s office. They have also updated the technology in their radios, tasers, and traffic stop devices.

When Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner took office at the start of 2023, one of his major priorities was to modernize the way the force operated. He has improved every month or two, most recently late in June thanks to the agency’s first-ever body cameras.

“We are trying to build a 21st-century department with technology,” Sheriff Finkbeiner said.

Finkbeiner had a great ambition for advancement inside the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office as a civilian before to being elected sheriff. That goal eventually resulted in a bid for public office.

“I’m not a law enforcement guy. I did not come from law enforcement, so I have a little different perspective on law enforcement,” Finkbeiner stated.

“One of the first things that I wanted to work on and improve is the community relationship and law enforcement. The second thing was how do we get better, how do we get better at fulfilling that? That’s where the technology comes in,” Finkbeiner explained.

The sheriff’s office also purchased tasers in April, which now trigger body cameras in a 30-foot radius anytime they are drawn in addition to the body cameras.

Deputies in different parts of the county can communicate thanks to new radios purchased in March. Previously, only approximately 60% of the county could hear them speak to one another, according to Finkbeiner.

“It was very, very difficult in some places. Now our coverage is well over 95% of the county,” Finkbeiner said.

A license plate scanner was the final component added, ensuring that a phony name won’t hinder the legal procedure during a traffic stop.

Additionally, it enables deputies to file and print tickets digitally before ever leaving the site, enabling them to respond to every incident more quickly.

“We’re using technology as a force multiplier,” Finkbeiner said.

The county had to pay $1.5M only for the radio upgrade. Tasers typically cost $33,000. Body cameras cost $63K, but $30K of that was reimbursed by a grant.

Finkbeiner said his next project is to modernize the jail’s facilities, which are located within the sheriff’s office. In order to accomplish such goals, he intends to propose a tax in 2024 and seek community support for it.