Fort Smith, Ark. – The Fort Smith Police Department announced the promotion of three officers this week, recognizing their years of service, leadership, and contributions to the department as they assume new supervisory roles.
The promotions included Richard Wright to captain, Joshua Brents to lieutenant, and Luke Hartman to sergeant.
Captain Richard Wright joined the Fort Smith Police Department in March 2009 and began his career in Troop 2 Patrol before transferring to Troop 3 later that year. He later served in the Street Crimes Unit within the Criminal Investigations Division before continuing in the Narcotics Unit after the divisions merged.
In December 2018, Wright was promoted to sergeant and assigned to Troop 1 Patrol. He later became the Property Crimes detective supervisor within the Criminal Investigations Division before earning a promotion to lieutenant. As a lieutenant, he served as the department’s Emergency Management Coordinator and supervised Community Relations before assuming command of Troop 1 in June 2022.
In his new role as captain, Wright will oversee Patrol Special Operations. He has been married to his wife, Melany, for 20 years, and the couple has two sons.
Lieutenant Joshua Brents earned an associate degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith in 2013 and served six years in the Army Reserve as a military police soldier. In 2015, he deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served as a prison guard at multiple detainee camps.
After working as a detention deputy with the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center, Brents joined the Fort Smith Police Department in January 2018. He served in Troop 2 until being promoted to sergeant in 2021.
Throughout his career, Brents has served on the department’s SWAT Team, worked as a defensive tactics and firearms instructor, received an Employee of the Month recognition and a Life Saving Award, and completed all three FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association courses, earning the Trilogy Award. He is also a graduate of the Criminal Justice Institute School of Law Enforcement Supervision.
As lieutenant, Brents will serve on Troop 2. He and his wife, Haley, married in 2016 and adopted their son in 2023.
Sergeant Luke Hartman began his law enforcement career with the Denton County Sheriff’s Department in Texas before joining the Fort Smith Police Department in May 2019.
Since joining the department, Hartman has served on the Honor Guard, Mobile Field Force, Recruiting Team, Drone Team, and the reestablished Bicycle Unit after completing specialized training through the International Police Mountain Bike Association.
He has also earned certifications as a Standardized Field Sobriety Instructor, Drug Recognition Expert, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, and Accident Reconstructionist. Hartman received the department’s Guardian Award in 2024 and the Guardian of the Flame Award from Special Olympics Arkansas in 2025.
As sergeant, Hartman will serve on Troop 2. He and his wife, Samantha, have been married for four years.
The Fort Smith Police Department said the promotions reflect each officer’s dedication, experience, and commitment to serving the community, adding that the three leaders will continue supporting the department’s mission in their new assignments.