The Natural State's Top 10: Most Valuable First Responder Benefits

Arkansas' highlights for first responders include an incredibly rare pension pathway for volunteer firefighters, highly lucrative Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP), and comprehensive state-funded scholarships that guarantee your family's educational future.

Here's the full WeSalute ranking for the top ten professional resources and benefits for first responders in Arkansas:

1. The Arkansas Heroes Scholarship: A massive guarantee for your family's future. The state provides a highly comprehensive scholarship for the dependent children and spouse of any law enforcement officer, firefighter (including volunteers), or emergency medical provider killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty. This scholarship covers 100% of in-state tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus room and board at any eligible Arkansas public or private institution for up to eight semesters.
2. Local Police and Fire Retirement System (LOPFI): A highly secure, lucrative retirement pathway. LOPFI is a statewide, defined benefit pension plan for municipal police officers and firefighters. It guarantees a lifetime monthly payout based on your highest average pay and years of credited service, rather than fluctuating stock market returns, providing extreme financial security in retirement.
3. The LOPFI DROP Program: A powerful wealth-building tool for senior personnel. Arkansas offers a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) for LOPFI members who reach at least 28 years of service. Instead of retiring immediately, members can continue working and drawing their regular salary while their monthly pension payments are simultaneously deposited into a high-yield, tax-deferred state account for up to five years, resulting in a massive cash payout upon final retirement.
4. Firefighter Cancer Presumption & Paid Leave: Strong workers' compensation protection. Arkansas law presumes that a comprehensive list of cancers are occupational diseases inherently linked to the hazards of firefighting. Even more uniquely, state law dictates that a career firefighter diagnosed with an occupationally caused cancer is automatically granted up to 1,456 hours of specific paid leave (roughly equivalent to 60 full 24-hour shifts) to undergo treatment without ever having to drain their own sick or vacation time.
5. Volunteer Firefighter Pension Eligibility: An incredibly rare and rewarding financial benefit. Unlike most states where volunteer firefighters only receive nominal tax write-offs, Arkansas allows certified volunteer firefighters to participate directly in the LOPFI retirement system. Upon reaching the required age and years of service, volunteers can draw a genuine monthly pension check for life.
6. APERS Defined Benefit Pension: Because LOPFI primarily covers municipal agencies, Arkansas ensures its county and state-level public safety personnel are equally protected. Sheriff's Deputies, State Police, and state-level first responders are generally covered by the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS), which offers its own highly robust defined benefit pension, survivor protections, and specific DROP program.
7. 100% LODD Survivor's Pension: A critical safeguard for your family's financial stability. If a vested first responder in the LOPFI or APERS system is killed in the line of duty, the state retirement system steps in to provide the surviving spouse with an ongoing, lifetime monthly pension payout to replace the officer's lost salary, operating entirely separate from federal PSOB death payouts.
8. Accelerated Lateral Transfer Academies (ALETA): A massive operational benefit for out-of-state officers looking to relocate to Arkansas. The Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training allows qualified, certified lateral transfers to bypass the standard 13-week basic police academy. Instead, approved laterals and qualified military police veterans can attend a heavily abbreviated reciprocity course to rapidly secure their Arkansas certification.
9. Act 833 Fire Department Funding: A direct investment in your on-the-job safety. Arkansas levies a specialized premium tax on insurance companies and directly funnels a portion of that revenue back to local career and volunteer fire departments via "Act 833 Turnback Funds." This money is legally earmarked specifically for upgrading firefighting equipment, purchasing modern turnout gear, and funding advanced training.
10. State Tax Exemption for Veteran Responders: A highly lucrative financial benefit for veterans transitioning into public safety. Arkansas law completely exempts military retirement pay from state income taxes. This means veteran first responders working in Arkansas can collect their full military pension tax-free while simultaneously earning their public safety salary and building their LOPFI/APERS pension.

It is critical to contact your specific state regulatory commission for all official information on academy standards, certifications, and continuing education requirements. Professional associations like the Arkansas State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters are your primary resources for union advocacy, legal defense, and career development.

Arkansas First Responder Certification Agencies

Law Enforcement: Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) 

Mailing Address: 
4 State Police Plaza Drive, 
Little Rock, AR 72209

Phone: 1-501-682-2260

Fire & Rescue: Arkansas Department of Public Safety (State Fire Marshal) 

Physical Address: 
1 State Police Plaza Drive, 
Little Rock, AR 72209

Phone: 1-501-618-8624

EMS: Arkansas Department of Health – Section of Emergency Medical Services 

Mailing Address: 
4815 West Markham Street, Slot 38, 
Little Rock, AR 72205

Phone: 1-501-661-2262

Return to the WeSalute State Benefits for First Responders Guide