Searcy County Sex Offender Coordinator Cari Seaton is pictured meeting with a registered sex offender at the Searcy County Detention Center. Seaton accepted the sex offender coordination's position in February of 2019.

Searcy County Sex Offender Coordinator Cari Seaton has been named the Searcy County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2020. She was nominated for the honor by Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell and Searcy County Chief Deputy Dewayne Pierce.

Cassell explained in February of 2019, 24 year old Seaton was selected to serve as the county's sex offender coordinator. Before her appointment, she had served the Searcy County Sheriff's Office since September of 2014 as a 911 operator, jailer/dispatcher and detention officer. Cassell said, "Her exemplary job performance made her the perfect candidate for the sex offender coordinator's position.

Pierce explained her duties and responsibilities as the sex offender coordinator include coordinating the registration of convicted sex offenders as required by state law; assisting in the developing, coordinating and analyzing policies, procedures, guidelines and objectives of county sex offenders; maintain an existing database for monitoring and case tracking active and inactive sex offenders; prepare correspondence and statistical reports and drafting responses on behalf of supervisors; and conducting criminal history inquiries on sex offenders through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and other law enforcement databases; and processing and verifying local sex offender's information and monitoring their status.

Seaton has a Part-Time 2 law enforcement certification, which allows her to serve as a part time police officer. She meets with each sex offender throughout the year to ensure their information on file is correct; she assesses the assigned level of each sex offender; ensures that community notifications are taken care of; and ensures local law enforcement officers are knowledgeable about each of the sex offenders in the county.

Seaton, who is a longtime resident of Searcy County, dedicates a great deal of her spare time to community projects such as the community Thanksgiving dinner, Shop with a Cop program and many other fundraiser type events.

Cassell explained since Seaton was appointed sex offender coordinator, she has done an outstanding job of managing her offenders and shows sympathy and respect to the victims. "She is a very valued member of the community and the Searcy County Sheriff's Office," Cassell added.

According to Pierce, Seaton has and continues to do a tremendous job in keeping Searcy County sex offenders in compliance with the law. "I have been in law enforcement for over 30 years and I consider Seaton to be one of the most proficient coordinators I have ever had the opportunity to work with. Her assistance and support of the department is invaluable," Pierce said.

Cassell added, "Her exemplary job performance and outstanding dedication and devotion to her department and her community made her the perfect candidate for officer of the year."

Seaton will be recognized at a luncheon on January 29, 2021 at the Benton Event Center in Benton, AR. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge will present Seaton with a commemorative lapel pin and certificate in honor of her achievement.