Arkansas Commission Reviews Officer Decertification Cases

State regulators are moving forward with decertification hearings for two former police officers following termination.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stylized metallic law enforcement star emblem, symbolizing regulatory oversight in Arkansas. — The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training has initiated decertification hearings for two officers following investigations into professional misconduct. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training has approved a decertification hearing for former Centerton officer Edgar Martinez. The board also accepted the voluntary decertification of former Bentonville officer Lizeth Cervantes.

Why it matters

State commissions review law enforcement certifications to ensure officers meet professional standards after being fired for misconduct. These actions prevent terminated officers from working at other agencies within the state.

The commission officially greenlit a decertification hearing for Edgar Martinez and approved the voluntary decertification of Lizeth Cervantes. These procedural steps follow terminations by the Centerton and Bentonville police departments respectively.

The players

Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training

This state regulatory board is responsible for certifying and decertifying police officers across Arkansas.

Edgar Martinez

He is a former police officer who served with both the Bella Vista and Centerton police departments.

Lizeth Cervantes

She is a former Bentonville police officer whose certification is being removed following a domestic disturbance investigation.

The details

Edgar Martinez, who worked for Centerton from 2022 until his 2024 firing, allegedly entered a home without a warrant, handcuffed a resident, and deactivated his body camera. In a separate case, Lizeth Cervantes was terminated by Bentonville police in February 2026 after entering another officer's home against his wishes and remaining for up to 40 minutes.

April 8, 2019: Martinez began his service with the Bella Vista Police Department.
September 10, 2020: Martinez ended his employment at the Bella Vista Police Department.
March 21, 2022: Martinez was hired by the Centerton Police Department.
February 13, 2024: Martinez entered a residence without a warrant.
January 2026: An investigation was launched into the conduct of Lizeth Cervantes.

Legal Context

These proceedings follow the established Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training certification protocols for officers terminated for cause. The state's disciplinary framework ensures that officers dismissed for misconduct are unable to transfer to other jurisdictions.

These decertification actions aim to maintain professional standards for police officers serving local communities across the state. Residents can expect state oversight to continue as regulators finalize proceedings for terminated officers.

The takeaway

Maintaining professional accountability in law enforcement requires rigorous state-level review of officer conduct. These hearings serve as a mechanism to protect the public by ensuring terminated officers are removed from duty.