Cotter Police Department

02/26/2026

The Arkansas Department of Transportation has made a speed limit change for a portion of Hwy 62 / 412 in the City of Cotter. From Denton Ferry Road to the Cotter city limits was changed from 50 to now 45.

A speed limit change has gone into effect for a portion of Highway 62/412 in the City Cotter in an effort to reduce speeds and improve safety. The change made by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)

10/20/2025

Heads up! Pending weather: update coming Wednesday!

08/13/2025

04/03/2025

NHTSA and the Cotter Police Department Remind Drivers: Put the Phone Away or Pay

Cotter, Arkansas The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort, April 7-14, 2025, to deter distracted driving. Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws and remind drivers: Put the Phone Away or Pay. This effort comes during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to NHTSA, in 2022 there were 3,308 people killed and an estimated additional 289,310 people injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. However, due to data collection limitations, we know that these are underestimations. “Distracted driving is a leading cause of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads, and most of this distraction can be attributed to cell phone use,” said Chief Travis Hopson. “People know using their phone while driving is dangerous and often illegal, but they do it anyway and put themselves and others at risk. Drivers will see increased law enforcement efforts, as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. If you text and drive, you will pay,” he said.

Violating Arkansas’ distracted-driving laws can be costly. In Arkansas, texting and driving is illegal and carries a fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for subsequent offenses, with fines doubling if a collision occurs.

Drive Safe Every Trip

NHTSA urges drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe drive:

· If you are expecting a text message or need to send one that can’t wait, pull over and park your car in a safe location before using your device.

· Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.

· Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

· Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, silence notifications, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

Cell phone use while driving is dangerous and illegal. Break the cycle. Remember: Put the Phone Away or Pay. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving

03/12/2025

03/02/2025

I would like to start this off with a quick thank you to all of our Law Enforcement. They do a thankless job day in and day out, They are called to do this work with long hours, little pay, and less public support, as a Nation, than anytime in my 30 plus year career. I am very fortunate to run a Department in the Ozarks where our community supports and believes in what we do!

Having said that I would like to thank My Officers publicly for the job they do. This group of Officers makes my job easier, and enjoyable. So, now to the point, on Friday Feb 28th Sgt Patterson effected a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling through Cotter in excess of 15mph over the posted speed limit. During the course of the stop and his investigation he located a large quantity of suspected Methamphetamine, 22 Grams give or take. This, near Ounce of poison was taken off OUR streets! I feel like the Officers that work for my Department make it easy for not only our Citizens to sleep at night, but me as well!

Great job, and stay safe.
Chief Hopson

04/09/2024

Cotter Police Officers made a stop on Harding Boulevard, near downtown Cotter, on Saturday evening. During the contact a search was conducted and 86 grams of methamphetamine, over 50 pills of fentanyl, $990 in cash was seized. The suspect was arrested on multiple felony charges, including a class Y felony.

The City is proud of these Officers and appreciates their dedication to making Cotter a better place by standing in the gap protecting our citizens. This arrest takes drugs that are not only dangerous to the public, but just as deadly for the Officers, off the streets. Tremendous job!

05/19/2022

HE HAS BEEN FOUND IN MISSOURI!

Thank you to everyone that helped in locating him so quickly!

Arkansas State Police issued a Silver Alert Thursday morning for a missing Baxter County man.

10/05/2021

    The following information is for a Missing Juvenile that has been reported to the Gassville Police ...

05/28/2021

Traffic stop in Cotter nets a felony drug arrest. A joint investigation between Gassville police and Cotter net approximately one pound of ma*****na and a couple of grams of Methamphetamine.

As Chief I greatly appreciate the working relationship our department has with the surrounding jurisdictions. It is refreshing that even in these unprecedented times Officers in this area still respect their profession and work hard to make a difference in our communities. Great job!

05/04/2020

UPDATE*** Driver and vehicle have been located. On behalf of the Cotter Police Department, we thank you all for your help!

On 5-3 we had asked If anyone had any information as to the driver or owner of this vehicle to please contact the Cotter Police Department at 870-425-2361. The driver was a bald white male. The vehicle drove into Bayman’s Liquor store in Cotter, damaged the building, then left the scene. The liquor store is located at SH 62 and Harding Blvd. We have since located the vehicle and driver with the help of our community.

Chief Hopson

03/16/2020