Patrick Weatherford
Patrick Weatherford
Photos of Patrick Weatherford with his daughter Kaitlyn
Patrick Weatherford was a Lieutenant rank police officer with the Newport Police Department. Lieutenant Patrick was known as a hard working and talented officer who was awarded the Jackson County Officer of the Year in 2016. In 2016, he also graduated from the National Academy.
Personal Life
Patrick Weatherford had a close relationship with his daughter Kaitlyn Weatherford.
Career
Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford was a 15-year veteran with the Newport Police Department. He was named the 2016 Jackson County Officer of the Year by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Weatherford, began his career at the Newport Police Department in 2002 at the age of 26 and has worked in the Criminal Investigation Division since 2004.
Education
Lt. Patrick Weatherford at his graduation from the FBI National Academy
Memorial poster in memory of Patrick by KAIT
In 2016, Weatherford graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was one of only three law enforcement officers from Newport to be selected for the program.
Weatherford was honored to be a part of the program and had said:
“I think the one thing that will stick with me is that law enforcement in our city is not unlike law enforcement in the remainder of the country and in the world,” he said.
“We have the same challenges in Newport as they have in New York City.
We have the same challenges as they have in South Korea.
I’ve realized the importance of networking and reaching out and using other resources that may be available and we simply don’t have as a small agency.”
When asked about what’s next, he said “there is no more training along this line in the future.”
The Lieutenant explained that because the National Academy is done by nomination and selection, there’s a certain prestige that goes along with it.
“You can’t buy your way into the National Academy.
Other programs are just a matter of paying tuition, but it’s not that way with this program.
This is highly selective.”
“I truly hope this training makes me better suited to handle the challenges that our agency may face, either short term or in the future.
I am grateful for the support of Chief Michael Scudder and Mayor David Stewart for the opportunity to pursue such an elite training and look forward to what the future holds as I apply the skills and knowledge I have learned to better protect and serve our community.”
In 2017, Weatherford graduated with a Master's degree in Criminal Justice /Law Enforcement Administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 2015, he graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice / Political Science. In 2013 he graduated from Arkansas State University with an associate's degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science.
Death
On June 12, 2017 at around 7:30 p.m Patrick Weatherford was shot near Remmel Park in Newport, Arkansas while on duty.
Multiple police departments are conducting a manhunt to find the shooter with the Arkansas State Police taking over the lead investigative agency in this shooting.