Springdale Police Officer Retires Amid Internal Investigation

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The Springdale Police Department has released body camera footage from an incident on April 5 that prompted an internal investigation and the retirement of a 25-year veteran lieutenant. The footage shows officers responding to multiple noise complaints at a party, with the lieutenant's actions ultimately found to not meet department policies and standards.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of police accountability and the need for thorough investigations into officer conduct, especially when it involves potential violations of department policies. The public release of body camera footage also promotes transparency around law enforcement actions.

The details

The body camera footage shows officers responding to a noise complaint at a barn party on April 5. They went to the address three times, each time responding to a noise disturbance call. The footage includes audio of strong language used by the officers. The department said the actions of Lt. Joshua Kirmer, a 25-year veteran, did not meet department policies and standards, leading to his retirement before the internal review could be completed.

• On April 5, officers responded to a noise complaint in the 3800 block of N. Oak Street in Springdale, Arkansas.
• Lt. Joshua Kirmer, a 25-year veteran, retired during the internal investigation that began after a citizen complaint about his response to the incident.

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