Carroll County Officer of the Year

Officer Zachary Gray of the Berryville Police Department was honored as the Carroll County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin at the 2024 Officer of the Year Awards luncheon on Dec. 12 in Little Rock.

Gray was nominated by Berryville Police Chief Robert Bartos, who said in his nomination letter that Gray has been with the department for approximately three years.

“Officer Gray is a hard-working officer who is always on the go,” Bartos wrote.

Bartos wrote that Gray stays busy throughout his shifts and leads the department in citations issued for driving while intoxicated.

“Officer Gray’s eagerness to work has put him on scene several times quick enough to save the lives of several citizens by administering NARCAN to reverse opioid overdoses,” Bartos wrote.

Bartos cited one particular incident in his nomination.

“Just last week, Officer Gray responded to a house fire,” Bartos wrote. “A woman had intentionally caught the house on fire by lighting numerous mortar style fireworks in a back bedroom. When she left the house, she attempted to lock the occupant, who uses a walker, in the house, so he could not escape. Officer Gray arrived on scene and was able to get the man safely away from the fire without any injuries.”

Bartos wrote that Gray spends his off time practicing Jujitsu. He is a certified instructor and teaches law enforcement Jujitsu to Berryville officers, Bartos wrote.

“Officer Gray is an example to all law enforcement,” Bartos wrote. “He is a role model for other officers and to the public. In times like these, we need ambassadors like Officer Gray representing our police departments. The public needs to know that we can be trusted to be fair and do the right thing.