EPD's Owens named Officer of the Year

Office of the Year: Patrolman Logan Owens, of the El Dorado Police Department, is named the 2019 Union County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Owens received the award Oct. 1 in Benton.
Office of the Year: Patrolman Logan Owens, of the El Dorado Police Department, is named the 2019 Union County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Owens received the award Oct. 1 in Benton.

For the second time in three years, an officer with the El Dorado Police Department has been recognized for outstanding work in law enforcement by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

Patrolman Logan Owens was named Union County Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during the 2019 Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit, held Oct. 1 in Benton.

Each year, Rutledge recognizes one law enforcement officer from each of the state’s 75 counties and regional and state officers as outstanding officers of the year.

Lt. Chris Lutman, public information officer for the EPD, won the Union County award in 2017 and Deputy Aaron Galbraith of the Union County Sheriff’s Office took home the award in 2018.

This year, Owens was recognized for his dedicated service to law enforcement.

The El Dorado native joined the EPD in 2015 after graduating with a B.S. in criminal justice from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia.

In addition to his duties as a patrol officer, Owens is a K-9 officer and a member of the EPD’s SWAT team.

Police Chief Kenny Hickman described Owens as a quiet, solid presence on the El Dorado police force who is well deserving of the Union County Outstanding Officer of the Year nod.

“He’s remarkably even-tempered and very steady under pressure,” Hickman said.

“Officer Owens is easygoing and tends to fly under the radar, not seeking to draw attention to himself,” the police chief continued, “Despite him being low-key in personality, his diligence and performance tend to warrant recognition.”

Hickman said an El Dorado resident praised Owens for the way handled a recent call for service.

“‘Not only was he very professional, he called a couple of days later to make sure we were still safe,’” Hickman read, adding, “That citizen explained they ‘needed’ to express their appreciation.”

A city employee who works in another department cited Owens’ professionalism and decision-making while assisting with another call, Hickman said.

Describing law enforcement as “a team sport,” Hickman said Owens also fits the bill as a “team player” and represents the profession well.

“It’s easy to be proud of him in the recognition he receives. In this context, he will be the first to credit those he works with and express gratitude to the institution he is a member of,” Hickman said.

In 2016, Owens told the News-Times that law enforcement is not just a career but a lifestyle for those who choose it.

Connecting with and earning the trust of the public is the key to community policing, he said at the time, adding that he strives to make sure residents view officers as approachable.

“The days when you get a lot of calls and get real stressed out and worn down, it’s nice to hear ‘be careful out there’ from people in the community. It shows they do care about us and the job we do,” Owens said. “When you get home at night and take the uniform off, the job stays with you. We have normal lives but are also held to a higher standard than others.”

Being selected as the 2019 Union County Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year is an extension of that philosophy and the goals of the EPD, Owens said.

Logan is exploring other ways in which he can serve the public and the police department.

In April, he took the Civil Service exam for the position of sergeant, ranking ninth out of 10 candidates.

“It is an honor to be a member of the El Dorado Police Department. It is a place where opportunities are available to protect and serve my hometown,” he said. “I would like to thank the citizens of Union County for the support we receive as law enforcement officers.”

As the state’s chief law enforcement officer, Rutledge said the annual Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit is part of an overall effort to collaborate with the law enforcement community — including officers, prosecutors and other criminal justice personnel — by providing free, ongoing training opportunities, materials and resources.

The summit also highlights the service and sacrifices of law enforcement officers.

Nominations for officers of the year are submitted by police chiefs, county sheriffs, county judges, mayors, prosecutors and other law enforcement leaders from across the state.

“It’s my honor to recognize our law enforcement officers from around the state for their dedication to protecting Arkansans,” Rutledge said. “Every day, these brave men and women leave their families without knowing if they will safely return home.”

The focus of the 2019 summit was medical marijuana and eyewitness identification.

The attorney general said presenters addressed concerns and challenges that have arisen with the legalization medical marijuana in Arkansas and in other parts of the country.

Some challenges for law enforcement include possession, cultivation, distribution, transportation and driving under the influence, Rutledge said.

Ensuring proper eyewitness identification is vital in investigating criminal cases, she said, adding that it is estimated that approximately 70 percent of people who are wrongfully convicted in the U.S. are convicted based on erroneous eyewitness identification.

Online investigations was another topic that was presented at the summit.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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