Arkansas Department of Public Safety

Arkansas Department of Public Safety
Arkansas Department of Public Safety
	Seal
	Flag of Arkansas
Common name	Arkansas Department of Public Safety
Abbreviation	ADPS
Motto	"Protecting Arkansas Citizens"
Agency overview
Formed	April 11, 2019
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Arkansas, USA
Size	53,179 square miles
Population	3,017,804 (2019)
General nature	Civilian police;
Operational structure
Headquarters	One State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas
Agency executives	Mike Hagar, Cabinet secretary; Hugh Finkelstein, Chief of staff; Karen Perry, Chief financial officer; Allen Fitzgerald, Chief information officer;
Website
	https://www.dps.arkansas.gov

The Department of Public Safety is a cabinet level agency in the executive branch of Arkansas state government responsible for state law enforcement, emergency management, crime information, crime support, and fire safety. It was created in 2019. The Department of Public Safety is headquartered at One State Police Plaza Drive in Little Rock, Arkansas.

History

The Arkansas Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019 is considered a signature piece of legislation under Governor Asa Hutchinson^[2] [1]. Prior to the Act 910 of 2019, the State of Arkansas had 42 cabinet-level agencies reporting directly to the Governor of Arkansas. Act 910 of 2019 reduced the number of cabinet-level agencies to 15, including the Department of Public Safety. This change is considered the largest reorganization in Arkansas State Government in the past 50 years.

The Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety is the executive head of the department, appointed by the Governor, is subject to confirmation by the Arkansas Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Each board and division of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety is under the direction, control, and supervision of the Secretary of the Department. Though, the Secretary of the Department can delegate functions, powers, and duties to the boards and divisions under the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.