Van Buren Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #52

07/03/2026

Our FOP Family Picnic is going to be NEXT LEVEL thanks to Fat Boy’s Fireworks!!!!

06/14/2026

Part of our tournament included a home run derby. Thank you to Erica Medlock with Flat Branch Home Loans for your donation that went to the winner of the home run derby, Anthony Frazier!

06/14/2026

Thank you seems so inadequate a response to everyone who signed up teams, played, provided facilities, volunteered, or attended today’s benefit softball tournament. If we tried to name all of you we would absolutely leave people off. Thousands of dollars were raised to help fund this year’s Van Buren Shop With A Cop at Christmas.

Thank you all SO much for making this event so successful! The Van Buren FOP walked away the winners of the tournament! We are already looking forward to doing this again next year!

06/11/2026

THIS SATURDAY come watch our first annual Van Buren FOP Softball Tournament benefiting Van Buren Shop With A Cop! The games start at 9am and will be at the Alma ball fields by the high school football field. The entry fee is $5 for adults and kids are free. Cash and CashApp will be accepted. There will be a full concession stand with all of your favorite ball park snacks! All money raised goes to Van Buren Shop With A Cop. This event is so special to us and our community. It changes lives of the kids in our community and we get to have a blast shopping with them! This event is always a success and we hope to make it even bigger this year. Come watch the fun and friendly competition between local agencies and community members, all while supporting a fantastic cause!

05/19/2026

The Van Buren Police Department stands with our brothers and sisters at the Fort Smith Police Department as Officer Kyle Newman recovers after being shot in the line of duty.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Newman, his family, fellow officers, and all those affected during this difficult time. We ask our community to join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers and showing support for those who put their lives on the line every day to protect others.

We are wishing Officer Newman strength, healing, and a full recovery. The law enforcement community stands together.

Fort Smith Police Department issues statement on the condition of Officer Newman

While Officer Kyle Newman remains in critical but stable condition and is still fighting for his life, there were promising signs of improvement overnight.

Officer Newman’s family and the entire Fort Smith Police Department have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, encouragement, support, and especially prayers from this community and from people across the region. We truly believe those prayers are making a difference, and we remain hopeful that Officer Newman will overcome this terrible ordeal.

The support from this community has been nothing short of extraordinary. We ask everyone to continue standing behind Officer Newman, his family, and the men and women of the Fort Smith Police Department during this difficult time.

02/24/2026

The Van Buren Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #52, is united in our support of this sales tax. The proposal includes the building of a wonderful community center, badly needed new fire station, and the ongoing support to operate both. The ½ cent needed to build these will sunset once those are paid. The other ½ cent will be permanent and will provide funding to operate the community center and public safety. We are very excited about the opportunity this provides to our great city!

02/12/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2026
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52 Endorses Jay Baker for Crawford County Justice of the Peace

VAN BUREN, AR — The Van Buren Police Department Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52 is proud to announce its official endorsement of Lieutenant Jay Baker for Crawford County Justice of the Peace.
Lieutenant Baker has served the Van Buren Police Department with honor, professionalism, and integrity for more than a decade and has been a member of FOP Lodge 52 for 11 years. After attending the Van Buren Citizens Police Academy, Baker developed a strong commitment to public service and quickly distinguished himself as a leader within the department.

Throughout his career, Baker has advanced through the ranks, being promoted to Sergeant in 2022 and Lieutenant in 2024. He currently serves in a leadership role within the Criminal Investigation Division and was appointed Public Information Officer in 2025. His service and leadership have been recognized through numerous departmental honors, including Officer of the Quarter (2019), the Michael Stewart Leadership Award (2024), and the Chief’s Award of Excellence (2024).

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Baker remains actively involved in the community, volunteering with local organizations and supporting fellow officers through initiatives such as a weekly Bible study. He and his wife have raised their three children in Van Buren and remain deeply committed to the community and citizens of Crawford County.

“Lieutenant Baker is the type of leader that people follow because of who he is rather than his position. In every aspect of who he is, he influences our department in a positive way. He has shown a deep commitment to justice for victims of crime in our community,” said current FOP Lodge 52 President Koby McDonald.

“Jay Baker has built a strong reputation as a transformational leader. He inspires officers and team members while fostering a supportive, high-performing culture. By taking the time to understand the needs of his team, he is able to lead meaningful, positive change.” said longtime FOP member and former FOP Lodge 52 President Jonathan Wear.

“Jay Baker represents the kind of leadership our department, community, and county deserve. He leads with integrity, accountability, and a genuine commitment to the people he serves. His ability to unite officers, build trust, and push for progress has helped strengthen our department from the moment he was hired. Jay doesn’t just talk about improvement; he works for it every day. That dedication and his faith in God is why so many stand behind him and believe in the direction he’s leading us and will lead in the position as District 3’s Justice of the Peace” said 14 year FOP lodge member and former FOP Lodge #52 President, George Edelen.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52 proudly encourages citizens of Crawford County to support Jay Baker for Justice of the Peace!!!

12/23/2025

The Van Buren Fraternal Order of Police is proud to endorse Sheriff Daniel Perry in the 2026 Primary Election. Sheriff Perry and his deputies have continued to have a good working relationship with our department. It is not only important but absolutely necessary to have a good working relationship with all of the police agencies in Crawford County. He has served the citizens of Crawford County with honesty and integrity, while continuing to improve the working conditions of his officers.