Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker announced Wednesday that he will retire effective June 1, 2027, ending an eight‑year tenure as chief and a 30‑year career in law enforcement. The announcement, made in a city‑issued news release, states the decision is personal and not linked to any specific incident.
According to the release, Baker began his service with the Fort Smith Police Department 26 years ago and was promoted to chief in April 2019, becoming the city’s first chief in several decades to rise from within the ranks. He expressed pride in the department’s accomplishments, noting that officers helped the community navigate the historic Arkansas River flood of 2019, the nationwide unrest following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, and the challenges of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
The release highlighted several recent achievements under Baker’s leadership. In 2024, officers received the largest across‑the‑board pay increase in department history—nearly 24 percent—and the department began providing take‑home vehicles to officers for the first time. In July, the department earned its eighth Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation, a distinction the agency calls the “Gold Standard in Public Safety.”
City Administrator Jeff Dingman praised Baker’s tenure, saying, “The mark of a leader is leaving an organization better than he found it, and I believe Chief Baker did that with the Fort Smith Police Department.” Baker echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the department’s success stems from collective effort and community support rather than any single leader.
Baker also reiterated his hope that the next chief will be selected from the department’s current leadership, a path he himself followed. He said the early months of his chiefship were marked by uncertainty, but his confidence in the department and its personnel never wavered.
What’s next: Chief Baker will continue to serve through his retirement date on June 1, 2027. The city will begin the transition process, with the expectation that a successor—likely chosen from within the department—will assume command thereafter.
Sources: 4029tv.com, nwaonline.com
