Ferguson Announces Bid For Re-Election
Posted: November 11, 2009 at 5:19 a.m.
BENTONVILLE — Benton County Sheriff Keith Ferguson announced Tuesday he’s running for re-election in 2010.
Supporters, friends and family gathered at the Benton County Courthouse for the announcement. Ferguson is in his fourth term as sheriff.
He joined Arkansas State Police in 1969 and worked there until his retirement in 2001. He took office as sheriff in 2002. Ferguson’s entire career has been spent in Benton County, he said.
“My home is in Benton County and the people in Benton County are who I’ve served for more than 40 years now,” Ferguson said.
New programs implemented during his tenure include a police athletic league, Gang Resistance Education and Training program in schools and a project to call the county’s elderly population daily, according to a letter Ferguson wrote.
The office has also implemented many new training programs, the letter said. For example, deputies were trained to deal with soldiers affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“I have been running this complex department conservatively and have returned money to the county every year by keeping expenses under budget,” he wrote.
Ferguson supporter Jarred Crabtree has always liked Ferguson’s approach of attacking crime on all levels including patrol, Internet crime and narcotics, he said. Crabtree is a corporate investigator with Wal-Mart but worked for Ferguson for several years as sergeant of the narcotics unit.
“I’ve never met a greater lawman in Benton County, nor a better sheriff,” Crabtree said.
Don Kendall, a Rogers attorney and Ferguson’s campaign manager, said Ferguson isn’t motivated by glory. He believes in doing his job, Kendall said.
“He’s been the most dedicated police officer and worker ... that I’ve ever known,” Kendall said.
They became friends in 1972 while Kendall was a municipal judge and Ferguson was a young state trooper. Kendall has seen Ferguson do many things outside of the public eye that went beyond the call of duty, he said.
Ferguson is married to Sammy, his wife of 47 years. They have two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.
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