JONESBORO, Ark. — The Jonesboro Police Department has requested the decertification of former Officer Christopher Jefferson, who resigned in February before or during an internal affairs investigation, according to information obtained by NEA Report from the department and state officials.
The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, known as CLEST, voted during its October meeting to proceed to a hearing in Jefferson’s case, according to CLEST.
The vote advances the matter to a hearing to decide if the state will revoke his certification.
Resignation and Records Request
Personnel change records recently obtained by NEA Report through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act show Jefferson resigned from JPD in February 2026.
JPD Public Information Specialist Sally Smith denied NEA Report’s request for Jefferson’s personnel file, citing his resignation rather than a termination as the basis for withholding the requested records.
Smith said JPD submits a request for decertification whenever an officer resigns before or during an internal affairs investigation. Smith confirmed that practice applied to Jefferson.
NEA Report has not yet obtained the complaint that prompted the investigation or JPD’s letter requesting his decertification. We have made several records requests to establish the allegations in the case.
Jefferson now works as security at St. Bernards Hospital.
Two JPD Cases Advance to Hearings
Jefferson was one of two former Jonesboro officers whose cases CLEST voted to advance to hearings during its October meeting. The other was Jeremy Wheelis.
The commission’s published agenda for its Oct. 13-14 meeting separately listed JPD’s recommendations to decertify both former officers.
The information provided to NEA Report about those votes does not detail the allegations against either officer.
NEA Report has requested JPD’s letter to CLEST concerning Jefferson and the complaint that led to the internal affairs investigation.
We also requested the personnel file of Wheelis, whom we are told is still under active internal investigation. Wheelis sought an attorney general’s opinion in an attempt to block our FOIA request but was unsuccessful.
The request was made at the same time as the file of fired-Officer Clayton Wilson who did not fight the release of his records.
This story will be updated.
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