Governor Announces the May Face of Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the second installment of Faces of Arkansas, a monthly series highlighting Arkansans whose portraits and stories are displayed at the entrance to the Governor's office as a reminder of who the Governor and her team serve every day: the people of Arkansas. The series was launched to keep the focus of public service rooted in the individuals and communities that make the state what it is.

Each month, a different Arkansan is featured through a written profile, portrait photography, and a short video, with their framed photo hanging inside the Capitol. Selections are based on individuals who make Arkansas function - whether by serving as the heartbeat of their local communities, overcoming obstacles to achieve their dreams, or playing an essential role in their industry.

This installment features Cody Hall, of Little Rock, who spends his nights protecting the city's neighborhoods and communities, making a real difference and providing a real sense of security.

Cody Hall - Standing Watch

When most of Arkansas is asleep, Cody Hall is just beginning his day.

A patrol officer with the Little Rock Police Department, Hall works the midnight shift out of the department's Southwest Division, helping keep neighborhoods safe through the hours when many families are tucked in at home. Now in his fourteenth year of service, Hall has spent his career on patrol, because he wanted to make a difference where it mattered most: on the streets, in neighborhoods, and face-to-face with the people he serves.

"I never wanted to rank up," Hall said. "I just wanted to stay on patrol."

For Hall, policing is and always will be about service, presence, and people. As a field training officer, he also helps mentor the next generation of law enforcement officers, passing down the skills, judgement, and professionalism needed to serve Arkansas communities well.

Each shift begins with briefing notes, updates from supervisors, and a plan for the night ahead. From there, Hall gets in his patrol car and heads into his assigned sector - driving main roads, side streets, and neighborhood backroads alike, making sure homes, families, and businesses are protected.

"That visibility matters," Hall said. "People know someone is out there watching over their neighborhood so they can sleep at night."

That sense of security is exactly what continues to motivate him.

Growing up surrounded by violence, addiction, and instability, Hall saw firsthand how deeply crime can affect families and local residents. But he also saw something else. The calming presence of a police officer arriving when people need help the most is monumental, providing hope when there was none before. When a police officer came to Hall's home as a child, he knew exactly what his life's purpose was.

"It was like a superhero showing up," Hall said. "I always told myself I'm going to be that guy." Today, he is.
Over the years, Hall has responded to emergencies ranging from domestic violence calls to serious violent crimes. He knows every call carries uncertainty, and every response requires courage, confidence, and trust in the officers beside him.

But some of the most meaningful moments don't make headlines. Hall recalls speaking recently with a man who was overwhelmed and ready to give up on life. Instead of simply moving on, Hall took time to sit with him, talk, and listen.

"At the end, he told me he'd never had a positive interaction with an officer before," Hall said. "He just needed somebody to talk to."

Those moments, Hall recalls, are the real highs of the job - simple conversations that can change someone's day, or even their life, by just by taking the time to slow down.

As a father of three, Hall says the job has only deepened his sense of purpose. Every shift is another chance to help build a safer Arkansas for the next generation. That mission reflects the values behind the Protect Act, signed by Governor Sanders in April 2023, to strengthen public safety across the state. The act increases penalties for violent offenders, targets repeat crime, supports law enforcement, and helps ensure officers have the tools they need to protect Arkansas communities.

For Hall, public safety is still deeply personal. It's about the neighborhoods he knows, the people who wave as he drives by, and the trust built over years of service. Leaving Little Rock, he says, would feel like leaving home.

"It's an honor to be a Face of Arkansas," Hall said. "Especially for law enforcement. I want people to know there is positivity in this profession. We're here to help, protect, and serve."

And while most people may never see the work done in the quiet hours before sunrise, officers like Cody Hall are there all the same - standing watch over Arkansas, one night at a time.

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