Fort Smith, Ark. – Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker has announced plans to retire on June 1, 2027, concluding a 30-year career in law enforcement, including 26 years with the Fort Smith Police Department and eight years as its chief.
Baker announced his decision to department members, saying he wanted to provide sufficient notice to allow for a smooth leadership transition. He emphasized that the decision was personal and was not prompted by any single incident or circumstance.
“Serving the Fort Smith community and working alongside the men and women of this department has been the greatest professional honor of my life,” Baker said. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am grateful for the trust that has been placed in me over the past eight years as your Chief of Police.”
Baker was promoted to chief in April 2019, becoming the first Fort Smith police chief in several decades to rise to the position from within the department. He said he initially felt uncertain about taking on the responsibility but remained confident in the department and its personnel.
“I did so with a great amount of uncertainty except in knowing that I loved and believed in this department and wanted only to see us excel,” Baker said.
During his tenure, the department and the community faced several major challenges, including the historic Arkansas River flooding in 2019, nationwide social unrest following George Floyd’s murder in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The department also experienced the loss of Sgt. Rick Entmeier, serious line-of-duty injuries involving two department members and other personal and professional hardships. More recently, police personnel responded to a major cybersecurity attack that affected city operations.
Baker credited department employees with continuing to serve the community through those difficult periods, highlighting their professionalism, courage and resilience.
His tenure has also included changes in public safety outcomes, officer compensation and department resources. According to the department, Fort Smith has experienced a decline of more than 30 percent in Group A crimes over the past five years.
In 2024, officers received an across-the-board pay increase of nearly 24 percent, described by the department as the largest in its history. The department has also begun equipping officers with take-home vehicles for the first time.
Baker said those developments were the result of collective efforts by department employees and support from the community, rather than the work of one individual.
“These accomplishments belong to all of you,” Baker told department members. “They are the result of your work, your commitment, and your willingness to continually improve.”
Building relationships between law enforcement and residents has been another priority during Baker’s leadership. He identified community partnerships as a central part of his approach to policing and said he hoped those relationships would remain a defining feature of the department after his departure.
That approach is reflected in the department’s SHIELD principles, which stand for Service, Honor, Integrity, Education, Legacy and Dedication. Baker established the principles early in his tenure to promote public service, professional excellence and lasting community trust.
“That vision has never been about one Chief,” Baker said. “It has always been about who we are as a department and what we owe to the people we serve.”
City Administrator Jeff Dingman also praised Baker’s leadership in a statement Wednesday afternoon, October 14.
“Chief Danny Baker has led the Fort Smith Police Department for 8 years with a dual sense of service and purpose. Service to the men and women of the department, and purpose in bettering the Fort Smith Community,” Dingman said.
Dingman added that Baker had been a trusted contact for years, including before his promotion to chief. He said he believed Baker had left the department in better condition than he found it and wished him well in retirement.
Although Baker’s retirement is scheduled for June 2027, he said he intends to remain fully committed to the department and the community until his final day. He plans to work with city leadership and department personnel to ensure a smooth transition and prepare the department for continued success.
Baker also expressed confidence in the department’s current leadership and said he hoped his successor would be selected from within its ranks.
“Thirty years ago, I entered a profession dedicated to serving others. Twenty-six of those years have been spent wearing the Fort Smith Police Department badge. I cannot imagine a greater honor,” Baker said. “Thank you for allowing me to serve beside you and thank you for trusting me to lead.”