With more than three decades of law enforcement experience, Todd Stovall has been named Chief of Police for the City of West Plains.
Chief Stovall brings 35 years of progressive law enforcement experience to West Plains, all of which he served with the Paragould Police Department in Paragould, Arkansas. Over the course of his career, he rose through the ranks from patrol officer to detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and ultimately served as Chief of Police since 2009.
During his tenure as Chief in Paragould, Stovall led a department of more than 60 sworn officers and 8 civilian personnel, overseeing daily operations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and long-term strategic planning. He is credited with developing community-oriented policing strategies that reduced crime, strengthened public trust, and modernized departmental operations. Under his leadership, the department adopted body-worn cameras, advanced data-driven policing technologies, and updated departmental policies to meet the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
Chief Stovall has also been recognized for his ability to build partnerships across local, state, and federal agencies to improve emergency response and public safety coordination. Within his department, he championed officer wellness initiatives and professional development opportunities to support recruitment, retention, and overall morale.
“I am honored to join the West Plains Police Department and serve this community,” said Stovall. “My goal is to strengthen trust between officers and residents, build on the department’s successes, and ensure that West Plains remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”
City Administrator Sam Anselm added, “Over the past several years we’ve established a professional, modernized police department with dedicated officers and civilian personnel, and I’m confident that Chief Stovall will continue those efforts and build on an already solid foundation at WPPD. Providing the best service we can to our residents is our top priority, and Chief Stovall’s experience and positive attitude will ensure that the police department continues to serve and protect everyone in our community. I’m excited to have Chief Stovall join our leadership team.”
Chief Stovall officially begins his duties with the City of West Plains on October 1.