Command Staff

I was born in Bossier City, Louisiana.  My dad retired when I was in elementary school.   With Hot Springs being a retirement community, we moved there.  After a few years, my dad took a job in French Camp, Mississippi at a Christian boarding school, French Camp Academy.  While we were there, the academy built a Christian radio station, where my mom became a well-known disc jockey.  

We later moved back to Hot Springs, where I graduated from Lake Hamilton High School.

I attended Garland County Community College (GCCC), UCA and UALR.  I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from UALR in 2007.

I was nominated and accepted to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, where I graduated in March of 2010.

I have been with BNPD, my entire career; 28 years.  I have been the Chief of Police for 7 years.

First Steps...

As a child, I wanted to be a Police Officer.  This had a lot to do with being surrounded by those in the Law Enforcement profession.    

My Grandfather was a Police Officer.  My Grandfather’s brother was a Police Officer.  My Dad and his brother were Police Officers.  My cousin was a Police Officer.  My dad’s brother-in-law was a Police Officer.  Later my brother became a Police Officer and I just felt destined to be a Police Officer.

Living in Benton and just loving the town, I decided to take my first step and I submitted an application.  I was hired in July of 1996. 

Benton is home.  I absolutely love our town.  I love our people.  I feel like this job has allowed me to make a positive impact on not only our community, but so many people in so many ways.  

Favorite Things About Benton...

There isn’t much I don’t like about Benton.  We have been blessed with great leadership throughout the years and it just keeps getting better.  What Benton has to offer to our citizens is unique and special.  From the services our Police Department provides, to our Parks, to the many different departments that make Benton so special.  Just take a look at our Benton Event Center, our Benton River Center, our Boys and Girls Club of Saline County, and I could go on and on.  Look at the foresight our leaders have had.  Look at the future of the plans at Exit 114, and we can’t forget about the Saline County Career Technical Campus.  All of these projects are in Benton because of our leadership.  It’s phenomenal.

Assistant Chief Besancon has called the Salem community in Saline County home for many years. A graduate of Bryant High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps and later obtained a Psychology Degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
He has 31 years of law enforcement experience- all with BNPD. His desire to pursue a career in law enforcement stemmed from wanting to have a satisfying career that would help others. He began as an Accident Investigator for the Orange Police Department in Orange, California but eventually moved back to Arkansas and decided to be an officer where he grew up.
Assistant Chief Besancon is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a two-time recipient of the Benton Police Department Leadership Award, a SWAT team member and Commander.
Outside of work, he enjoys vacationing with his family, spending time on the lake, golfing, and side-by-side poker runs.