For Jason Denison, being a police officer is a way to make a difference in drug enforcement.
Denison, 28, was recently honored as the Searcy Police Department Patrolman of the Year. He also received the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force Extra Mile Award. The awards were presented at the annual Searcy Police Department Christmas Party and Awards Dinner on Dec. 15.
“I’ve wanted to do something about the drug problem,” Denison said. “I’ve seen personally how it can affect families — not only what it does to the person abusing drugs or using them, but also the family members, because it destroys families.”
Denison said he’s seen the problem up-close and personal with family members.
“I’ve been affected personally,” he said. “I’ve had family members into drugs since I can remember. I’ve got other family members trying to get out of it and stay clean. We’ve seen the effects and living through it and seen what it does to the families. It changes their personalities.
“It’s something that I want to get out of there as much as I can. I know it’s always going to be an ongoing battle, but the more we can do, the better everyone will be.”
Denison is a 2007 graduate of Rose Bud High School. He attended Arkansas State University on its Beebe campus, taking classes through the distance learning lab in Jonesboro. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology with a minor in sociology.
Denison said he didn’t know he wanted to be in law enforcement until he got to college.
“It was one of those things I didn’t really know before I was in college,” he said. “I decided I wanted to take some classes for this and just fell in love with it.”
After graduating from ASU, Denison’s first job was as a deputy jailer at the Pulaski County Jail in Little Rock. He was there eight months when he got a call from the Searcy Police Department. He’s been in Searcy since 2012.
“Pulaski County was the first one that hired me,” he said. “I’m the type of person that if someone hires me, I’m going to stay there awhile. I’m not going to start this job and go somewhere else two weeks later. That’s not my personality. I’ve had four or five jobs my entire life, and most of them, I’ve been there three or four years, besides Pulaski County.
“I had a chance to go work for the Little Rock Police Department when I was at the Pulaski County jail. When I start working somewhere, I usually stay there. I had only been working there a couple of weeks when Little Rock called. I didn’t go.”
Before he graduated from college, Denison said, he applied for several positions with various law enforcement agencies.
“Before I graduated college, I was putting in applications everywhere because I know the hiring process takes a couple of months,” he said.
Denison is proud of being recognized for his hard work by receiving the two honors.
“I really appreciate it,” he said. “I do my best. I come to work every day and work hard every day. I enjoy what I do. It really means something to show that my work is appreciated.”
Searcy Chief of Police Eric Webb said Denison had received Officer of the Month awards in the past.
“So it was no surprise that his peers voted for him as Patrol Officer of the Year,” Webb said. “Officer Denison is always willing to help his fellow officers, as well as carry his own workload without complaint. The additional award given by the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force is a result of his solid enforcement efforts and his persistent need to excel.”
Searcy is home, Denison said.
“Everybody is real close,” he said. “If someone needs help here in the department, everybody jumps to it. It’s like a family.”
Currently, Denison works a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. shift. The officers switch those shifts every two months.
“It’s not a big adjustment for me,” he said. “It’s pretty easy to get back into the swing of each one. Daytime, there are different things you work on, compared to the night. The way you patrol is different.
“We usually have the same number on each shift, depending upon if someone is off. We usually have about seven officers on each shift.”
During his job, Denison works a lot of traffic enforcement, especially with impaired drivers.
“I’ve had family members who’ve had wrecks while impaired, and it’s nearly killed them,” he said. “[Stopping them is] not only keeping that person safe, but everyone.
“I like working a DWI. I really do. That’s one thing I like to do. It involves a lot of paperwork. I enjoy that because each time, it’s something different.”
Denison said every night is different when he’s on patrol.
“When we usually get to work, if we’re not receiving calls for service, I’m usually out working traffic, trying to stop any vehicle that I can,” he said. “I don’t write tickets to everyone, but the more you stop, the more you will find. With me, I like to work drugs and DWIs. The more I stop, the more I’ll find.”
During his shift, Denison is watching everything.
“I’m watching people’s actions and reactions, watching the way vehicles are driving,” he said. “Every once in a while, you’ll see a vehicle, and they will dart off, and that is a good indicator of something to pay more attention to or follow. It’s really hard to explain because there is not a typical night. It’s a job that changes daily.
“Nothing is ever the same. You meet some pretty good people and unique individuals along the way.”
Denison said he feels like he has made a difference with some of the people he’s had to arrest over the years.
“There are a few people I’ve arrested over the years, and I’ve come back in contact with them, and it’s made an impact on them,” he said. “They’ve cleaned up and gotten a job and are living a good productive life, I’d have to say.”
Denison does have aspirations to work in a higher capacity.
“Eventually, I’d like to work my way up to sergeant or higher,” he said. “If I work as a patrolman for 28 years, I’ll be perfectly happy. I love my job that much. There are some different aspects that I’d like to get my feet wet in later on,” adding that he’d like to work for a drug task force.
Denison and his wife, Micah, will have been married four years this February. They live in Searcy. Denison said he enjoys deer-and-duck hunting and running.
Staff writer Mark Buffalo can be reached at (501) 399-3676 or mbuffalo@arkansasonline.com.