LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Three Arkansas State Police corporals were awarded Medals of Valor and named Troopers of the Year following a high-speed pursuit last October that ended in the death of a suspect who attempted to run a trooper off the road.
On Oct. 11, 2024, corporals Keegan Barnett, Dustin Carpenter and Marcus Simpson responded when a suspect began trying to force a fellow trooper off the highway. The situation escalated into a dangerous high-speed chase.
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During the pursuit, Simpson attempted to intercept the suspect but was forced off the road, crashing into trees. Despite the wreck, Simpson told his colleagues to continue the chase without stopping to check on him.
“It’s a hard reality of thinking my wife and kids could’ve lived the rest of their lives without me that day, that was tough,” Simpson said.
Carpenter and Barnett continued the pursuit, facing the possibility of a deadly head-on crash. Both officers ultimately fired at the suspect, who ran off the road and died at the scene.
“You can see how close we got to civilians getting killed or hurt. As far as danger to the public, I’ve never had an incident like that happen at that level,” Barnett said.
“We were just glad we were able to perform and do our job without any civilians getting hurt—or anything worse happening than what already did,” Carpenter said.
All three officers were honored for their quick decision-making and commitment to protecting public safety.
“It’s not very often, maybe once a career, you get that. So it’s a big deal,” Barnett said about receiving the award.
The officers credited their training and trust in each other for their ability to respond under pressure.
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“In law enforcement, we have that calling to protect and serve and put the community first,” Simpson said.
“I couldn’t pick two better guys to handle this situation. They handled it to the best of their ability, and I knew they were going to do that,” Carpenter said.
Officials said the trio’s actions that day reflected not only professional skill but also a deep commitment to each other and the communities they serve.
