Tontitown Police Chief Resigns

Upton Says Town Has Political Problem That Won't Go Away

Beckford
Beckford

SPRINGDALE — The Tontitown police chief resigned Monday and was replaced.

Denny Upton was asked to resign and did, said Mayor Jack Beckford. Beckford didn't give a reason why he asked for the resignation.

“It’s a personnel matter and I can’t go into it,” Beckford said.

Beckford named Kris Arthur as the new chief. Arthur is a former officer with the Springdale Police Department.

Upton, who started the Tontitown Police Department in March, said he didn't want to say much about his departure.

“I want to consider my options,” Upton said.

The job was becoming difficult because of excessive requests by a member of the Tontitown community, Upton said.

“This town has a political problem that won’t go away,” Upton said.

Upton was named chief of the department by Tommy Granata, the former mayor. Granata resigned in January, saying obstacles brought up by his opposition were too much. He named Mick Wagner as the leader of his opponents.

Wagner, the former director of the Tontitown Water and Sewer Department, is chairman of the city’s Planning Commission and director of the city’s Information Technology Department.

The City Council appointed Beckford as mayor to replace Granata. The council has replaced several officials in recent years. The city has gone through about seven recorder/treasurers in six years.

The Tontitown Police Department consists of five officers and a chief, Beckford said. A new officer will be hired to fill the spot opened with Arthur moving to chief, he said.

Upton said the department has received the support of the community.

“I wish I could have had more time to develop the department,” Upton said. “I gave it my best, although some folks out there might not see it that way.”

Before the department was created, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office patrolled the city. The Sheriff’s Office was paid $333,896 in 2012 to provide police protection in the city, according to Rick Hoyt, a major in the Sheriff’s Office.

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