JONESBORO, Ark. — Jonesboro police requested former Officer Christopher Jefferson’s decertification after he admitted having a sexual relationship with a confidential informant, according to records obtained from CLEST by NEA Report through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
The newly released records show Jefferson resigned Feb. 12, 2026, two days after being placed on paid administrative leave. The department closed its internal investigation with sustained policy violations.
The investigation also documented concerns about Jefferson’s continued involvement in criminal cases, including information relayed to investigators that prosecutors planned to stop accepting his cases and using his testimony.
The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, known as CLEST, voted during its October meeting to advance Jefferson’s case to a decertification hearing. That vote did not itself revoke his law enforcement certification.
Jefferson Acknowledged Relationship
JPD opened its internal investigation Feb. 9 after Poinsett County sheriff’s officials reported a suspected sexual relationship between Jefferson, a drug task force agent, and a confidential informant for the 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force.
According to Capt. Bryan Davis’ report, the woman allowed a deputy to record messages and images exchanged between her and Jefferson.
Investigators said text messages beginning Feb. 7, 2025, initially concerned narcotics information. Around July 18, Jefferson asked whether the woman had Snapchat. Subsequent communications documented a romantic relationship, according to the report.
During a Feb. 9 interview, Jefferson acknowledged that the relationship became romantic and sexual. He told Davis the change occurred after the woman finished making controlled drug purchases as an informant.
Jefferson said they had sexual encounters about twice and became deeply involved emotionally, according to the report. He said the relationship ended around October 2025. Investigators documented messages continuing into early October.
Davis also reported that Jefferson told the informant the names of streets where other drug task force agents lived.
Department Sustained Policy Violations
The department cited its code of conduct, which prohibits inappropriate relationships with people involved in cases under investigation or prosecution.
A separate drug and vice operations policy expressly prohibits officers from maintaining social relationships with current or former confidential informants.
Jefferson was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 10.
Two days later, Jefferson submitted his resignation, on Feb. 12. In the email accompanying his resignation, Jefferson wrote that he was unaware of the complete details relied upon for the internal investigation. His resignation letter did not discuss the allegations.
The completed internal affairs record lists the policy violations as sustained, with a completion date of Feb. 19.
“Due to Agent Jefferson’s resignation this internal investigation is closed with a finding of Sustained on the policy violations,” Capt. Scott Baker wrote.
Report Describes Potential Impact on Criminal Cases
Baker’s report also documented concerns about whether prosecutors could continue accepting Jefferson’s cases or calling him to testify.
According to Baker, Chief Rick Elliott relayed information that Craighead County Prosecutor Sonia Hagood planned to stop accepting Jefferson’s cases, would not call him to testify and intended to dismiss pending cases in which he was the lead agent.
Baker separately documented a conversation in which City Attorney Carol Duncan and Assistant City Attorney Tom Haynes expressed concerns about accepting Jefferson’s cases and indicated he would not be called to testify in district court.
Those statements appear in the internal investigative report. The released packet does not establish how many cases were affected or whether the described dismissals subsequently occurred.
JPD previously denied NEA Report’s request for Jefferson’s personnel file, citing his resignation rather than termination. Public Information Official Sally Smith said the department requests decertification when an officer resigns before or during an internal affairs investigation. She confirmed that practice applied to Jefferson.
Full Record Release by the Arkansas Department of Public Safety: VTP Packet Jefferson – Redacted
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