Tom Briggs
Criminal Investigations Division Supervisor with Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
Tom Briggs is the Criminal Investigations Division Supervisor for Texarkana Arkansas Police Department (TAPD). He decided to pursue a career in law enforcement after spending 12 years in the military. “Discipline and structure are something that I love and carry with me to this day,” Briggs says. “We all know that law enforcement jobs can be very stressful and dangerous, but I chose this field because I wanted to be a difference in our communities. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing how you have touched someone’s life just by doing your job.”
Though it is rewarding, law enforcement can be a challenging career, especially when balancing a personal life. “When doing this job, you work countless hours investigating serious crimes, and this causes you to be away from your family a lot. You incur lots of missed opportunities being with your children as they grow up,” Briggs says. “I just try to make sure my family knows that I really love them and spend as much time with them as possible.”
On challenging days, Briggs stays motivated by focusing on his goals and striving to serve others. In 2020, he even went back to school. “One of my biggest accomplishments is completing my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas,” Briggs says. “This is something that I’ve always wanted to finish, and I finally put in the work to get it done.”
Briggs also works hard to ensure his subordinates have what they need to succeed. “I want to be sure they are getting the best working atmosphere possible to keep their morale high,” Briggs says. “I also want to ensure they have all the equipment they need to return home to their families at the end of the day. Family is important, and in this profession, you never know what kind of day you will have.”
When he started this career, Briggs says they would patrol the streets with only two and three police officers on a shift, even on busy weekends. “Somehow, we still took care of the city,” Briggs says. “Now, these stories amaze me because even though we have seven to eight patrolmen on the streets, I think we could use more at times. The city has really grown so much.”
In the 20 years that Briggs has been a policeman in Texarkana, he says that he appreciates how well the police agencies from both sides of the line work together to accomplish good things and make a positive impact. “Living and working in a city that is located in two states and where everyone can still be one big family makes Texarkana special,” Briggs says. “I have lived on both sides of town, and the neighbors I have had the opportunity to live beside have been great.”
In the future, Briggs would like to see both sides of the line update and beautify the cities. “I wish we could make Texarkana more attractive for our citizens and tourists,” Briggs says. “Also, every community in this city needs more mentors for our youth. The youth in this city really do not have much to do anymore, which leads them astray and getting into mischief.”
Briggs also wishes to improve community relations between law enforcement and Texarkana citizens. To do so, he says that he has learned to stay humble, be professional, keep a good attitude, and treat others the way he wants to be treated. “Our police powers are derived from the communities we serve, and when police are called, they respond with the mentality to try and resolve any situation they encounter. There are times that police officers act as teachers, counselors, brothers, sisters, doctors, friends, and many other professions to help someone else,” Briggs says. “A healthy relationship means accepting people for who they are. Getting out in the communities, assisting the citizens with any problems, and working together to resolve any issues ensures a good working relationship.”