This is a beautiful Arkansas State Police challenge coin. Coin is about 1 9/16" in diameter and raised lettering on both sides and gold plated with a reeded edge. Reverse side has St. Michael the Protector, Patron Saint of Law Enforcement. Coin is contained in an air tight holder.
The Arkansas State Police is a state police agency for Arkansas, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Arkansas. Unlike other similarly named state police organizations in the United States, the Arkansas State Police is more of a Department of Public Safety in that it is an umbrella organization rather than a general policing agency. The uniformed divisions is as a highway patrol not a general power police as the Arkansas constitution grants that authority to the various county sheriffs and local police. While the Arkansas State Police was developed primarily to enforce liquor laws and assist local police departments, all commissioned State Troopers have arrest authority that is equal to that of the County Sheriffs regarding any/all criminal and traffic laws of Arkansas. The official duties of the Arkansas State Police is as an assisting agency in a mentor role to the local agencies and to aid in the supply of resources not afforded to the local agencies.
On March 19, 1935, when Arkansas Governor J.M. Futrell and the Arkansas General Assembly approved and signed into law Act 120, known as the Chrip-Carter bill, the Arkansas State Police was born.
The first men to be empowered in Arkansas with statewide law enforcement duties and responsibilities were known as Rangers. The name later changed to troopers