Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. Experience

LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE

Born, reared, and educated in Jefferson County, Arkansas, Sheriff Woods and his wife, Mrs. LaTasha R. Savage-Woods, are life-long residents. Together they have raised two children; Jordan and Brea. When Sheriff Woods is not out chasing criminals or volunteering his time on the many boards or commissions he serves, he enjoys fishing, hunting, and an occasional game of golf.

Sheriff Woods is a results-driven and accomplished senior law enforcement executive with extensive experience overseeing the management of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, which employs approximately 120 members of personnel comprised of both sworn and administrative support staff. He offers a distinguished career overseeing a vast array of disciplines. A decisive, ethical, and dynamic leader, Sheriff Woods also has expertise in strategic planning and development of projects for the advancement of departmental frameworks serving a diverse community of residents. Sheriff Woods is also effective at managing priorities and resources that are utilized to serve the citizens of Jefferson County, Arkansas. He is highly adept at leveraging relationships to achieve goals that benefit all components of government while serving the public.

CORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Project Management:

Directed aspects of construction of new sheriff’s office $4.2M budget
Implementation of automated forensics system, SkyWatch Observation Tower, ThugFindIR, Fleet management, departmental Glock weapons exchange
Federal HIDTA Equitable Sharing Program funding fiscal officer $250,000.00 annually
Federal/State/Local grants administrator
Established the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to expand specialized equipment, technology, professional development and scholarship opportunities
Secured over $1 million in grant funding to support crime-reduction strategies, expand food-distribution partnerships, enhance courthouse security, advance law-enforcement technology for greater efficiency
Launched the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-Based Program (COAP) and peer-recovery specialists for opioid and substance use intervention in our county jail
Championed the introduction of Pine Bluff Group Violence Intervention (GVI) formally the Gang Reduction Initiative of Pine Bluff (G.R.I.P.), leveraging the OJJDP’s evidence-based Comprehensive Gang Model to reduce gang-related crime

Operations Management:

Major upgrades to fleet, technology and training
Assumed total management of nine divisions of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center (DBDC) and Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center (JJC), which encompassing a nearly 120 combined critical personnel positions of which an estimated 60 are sworn personnel
Launched several upgrades, including improved network infrastructure, security protocols, and equipment, fleet upgrade
Deployment of Guardian RFID and Justice Bridge teleconferencing to optimize detainee tracking, improve staff performance and reduce transportation costs to courts
Achieved 100% compliance on state and federal jail inspections at both the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center and Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center since 2019

Staff Development:

Improved deputy pay and training standards
Assisted with the assurance of continued staff development through training, continuing education opportunities, in-house exercises, and ongoing identification of candidates for organizational sustainability and career development
Overhauled departmental policy, increased benefits and pay for all personnel, and championed key public-safety legislation at the local and state levels
Enhanced recruitment and retention to ensure our office attracts and retains the best and most diverse talent

Public Relations:

Established collaboration and community engagement, receiving several awards and recognition from the community
Strengthened and increased community involvement through community service providers, town halls, and community forums
Patrol visibility in unincorporated areas
Documented outreach to school, senior centers, churches, and civic groups
Launching or enhancing an active social media presence with regular updates, Q&As, and community highlights.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

2025 Sheriff’s Prestigious Excellence Award
2017 Jefferson County Officer of the Year - by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Outstanding Public Service Award - Community Empowerment Council, Inc.
Kathy Graves Memorial Leadership Award – by Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce & Alliance
Two-Time Recipient, Meritorious Conduct Award Recipient – by Tri-County Drug Task Force
Service Award “Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force” – by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Service Award “High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area” (HIDTA) – by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Service Award – by the Tri-County Drug Task Force
Chief’s Coin of Excellence – by City of Pine Bluff
Project Safe Neighborhood Coin of Excellence – by U.S. Attorney’s Office-EDAR

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Administrative Office Jefferson County, AR 2004-Present

Sheriff (2019-Present)

Chief law enforcement official responsible for providing public safety services to approximately 69,115 residents within the 10th largest county in the State of Arkansas comprised of a 914 sq. mile territory
Responsible for overseeing nine divisions of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office consisting of nine divisions including transportation and warrants, which manages detainee transportation and fugitive apprehension
Constitutionally charged with providing state judiciary protection for 6 separate divisions of circuit and chancery courts in the Eleventh Judicial West District of Jefferson County, Arkansas as well as two separate divisions of Pine Bluff-Jefferson County District Courts
Full management including operational and budgetary oversight of an adult detention facility, which houses both state and federal detainees with a 316-bed housing capacity in addition to management of a juvenile detention facility with an 87-bed housing capacity

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Operations Commander/Public Information Officer 2010-2019

Manage agency staffed by nearly 120 deputies and civilian employees directly supervise 9-supervisory level division commanders providing administrative, accreditation, budget, and logistical support
Study and analyze crime trends; developed a plan to reduce crime through enhanced monitoring of parolees and probationers in conjunction with the implementation of geographical web-based crime mapping solutions
Researched, developed, and implemented new departmental policies and procedures
Conceptualized and secured competitive grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to purchase specialized vehicles and equipment in order to enhance operational efficiency

U. S. Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (2008-2010)
Task Force Officer, HIDTA Group 62 DEA Little Rock District Office

Served as liaison to DEA in the investigation of drug trafficking organizations operating within the Gulf Coast High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) territory
Investigated all assigned cases to the standards established by the U.S. Department of Justice and in compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Demonstrated skills in interviewing and interrogating, properly observing legal safeguards
Provided grand jury testimony and testify in various state and federal courts, presenting a professional and competent image of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Internal Affairs Division (2008-2010)
Investigator

Investigated complaints filed against officers using supportive information from witnesses and/or tangible evidence
Scheduled polygraph examinations for consenting parties, and records results of test interpretations for presentation with findings
Documented and submitted investigative findings to the undersheriff for review
Researched, developed, and implemented new departmental policies and procedures
Provided testimony at hearings as requested

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Tri-County Drug Task Force (2005-2008)
Investigator-Drug Agent

Investigated all assigned cases to the standards established by the department pursuant to the criminal statutes of the Arkansas Criminal Code
Demonstrated skills in interviewing and interrogating, properly observing legal safeguards
Testified in state and federal courts, presenting a professional and competent image of the department and Tri-County Drug Task Force
Actively promoted crime-prevention and drug abuse prevention strategies and methods

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Patrol Division (2004-2005)

Deputy Sheriff

Patrolled and responded to reports of disturbances and criminal incidents; checked buildings for physical security
Made critical decisions regarding emergency situations and apprehension, administered first aid when necessary
Conducted all aspects of a criminal investigation, including arrests, victim interviews, interrogation, evidence gathering and preservation, court testimony, and presentation
Assist in search and rescue operations over a wide area, sometimes involving rugged terrain and difficult weather conditions

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Command Course Session V, 2023

Quantico, VA

Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.), 2019

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Certified Law Enforcement Instructor Certification, 2016

University of Arkansas System-Criminal Justice Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas

Senior Law Enforcement Certificate, 2014

Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST)

School of Law Enforcement Supervision, 2011

University of Arkansas System-Criminal Justice Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas Leader, 2011

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Little Rock, Arkansas

Asset Forfeiture Training, 2009

Drug Enforcement Administration, Quantico, Virginia

Narcotics Investigations, 2005

Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, Nas Meridian, MS

Bachelor of Arts Degree, Criminal Justice, 2004

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Basic Law Enforcement Training, 2004

Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, Camden, Arkansas

Law Enforcement Technical Certificate, 2004

Southern Arkansas University Tech, Camden, Arkansas

Over 1000 hours of additional certified training encompassing all areas of labor relations, administrative management, law enforcement productivity, systems analysis, criminal investigation, and prevention.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Commissioner with Arkansas’ Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST), Appointed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders July ’23 – Present
Commissioner with the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST), Appointed by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, served December ‘19 – July ‘23
Polemarch (President) for the Pine Bluff Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. by way of Gamma Sigma Fall '02
YouthPartners of Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Board of Directors
CASA Women’s Shelter Board of Directors
Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce & Alliance Chairman’s Club
Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility Commission
Federal Bureau of Investigation InfraGard National Security Group
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Advisory Committee
University of Arkansas Youth Motivational Task Force
National Sheriff’s Association
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (N.O.B.L.E.)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Rotary Club of West Pine Bluff