Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar issued a statement addressing the agency’s use-of-force policies amid recent scrutiny fueled by the circulation of edited footage on social media platforms.

Hagar highlighted the frequency of Officer Violator Contacts (OVCs), noting that from January 2023 through August 28, 2026, troopers with the ASP Highway Patrol Division conducted over 1,026,000 OVCs. From those encounters, 939 instances involved the use of force—approximately 0.09% of all contacts.

The colonel criticized third-party platforms for presenting use-of-force videos in ways that, he argued, lack context and prioritize engagement, saying, “Recently released videos of use-of-force incidents are being sensationalized and monetized on social media.” These platforms, according to Hagar, have re-released older videos from archived footage, sometimes misrepresenting them as new, which fosters what he described as “a false narrative.”

Hagar also underlined the intense uncertainty faced by troopers during routine stops, including two incidents in the past week where troopers were reportedly assaulted. Officers, he stated, deserve to have their actions evaluated within the complete circumstances they faced, rather than clips highlighting the most dramatic moments of confrontations.

“All uses of force are driven by two common denominators—unlawful activity and noncompliance,” Hagar emphasized. “Take those two factors out of the equation, and there will be no incidents for us to explain or debate.”

While declining to comment on specific ongoing criminal or civil cases, the colonel described the use of force as a regrettable last resort, stressing that every such incident is reviewed thoroughly.

Hagar also pointed to concerning consequences of social media sensationalism, alleging that “death threats against ASP personnel and their families” have surfaced. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its mission and thanked the public for an “outpouring of support.”

The Arkansas State Police, Hagar concluded, remain focused on public safety and transparency, with a firm priority on the well-being of Arkansans.