The Arkansas Sheriff’s Association signed a Statement of Support during their Summer Convention at Springdale Arkansas on June 28, 2011. The Association Executive Director, Mr Chuck Lange and the Association President, Sheriff Tim Helder signed the Statement during an Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) address to the Convention by Richard Green, Administrative Support Technician with Arkansas ESGR. Statements of Support Certificates were also signed by thirty-four Arkansas County Sheriffs making a 100% total of the Seventy-five Arkansas County Sheriffs that have signed Statements of Support.

The Sheriff Departments are one of the largest employers of Guard and Reserve Members in Arkansas. Ninety-three percent of the Sheriff Departments have Guard and Reserve Members in their Departments. The Sheriffs along with the County Judges are highly supportive of their Military Members, many of them having several deployments. These deployments cause hardships to the Sheriff Departments as it is difficult or impossible to acquire temporary replacements during their Military Member’s absence. Sheriff Helder was very appreciative of the service provided to the Sheriff Departments by ESGR.