BROWNSTOWN — Brownstown’s newest police officer brings more than just a solid background in law enforcement to the job.
“I have also served in the United States military,” Scott Arnold said.
That service includes nine years in the Army and four years in the Navy for the Purple Heart recipient.
Arnold, who was sworn in during a recent town council meeting by Brownstown Clerk-Treasurer David Willey, brings something else to the police force.
“I have a huge heart for kids,” he said. “I love to see our youth active in their communities and make sure they know as an officer, I am always here for them.”
During his brief time on the job, Arnold said he has come to love Brownstown and the people of the community.
“I would like to express to all the citizens in that area that I am always here if they need anything. If I don’t know the answer to their question, I will not rest until I do have the answer,” he said. “Brownstown seems to be a city that supports its officers, and I have not met a stranger in this first month I have been here.”
Arnold became a police officer in November 2018 and most recently worked at the Petersburg Police Department in the southwestern part of the state.
“I was a very proactive officer at my last department,” he said. “I led that department in narcotics arrests and investigations for the time I was there.”
Arnold said the leadership provided by Brownstown Police Chief Tom Hanner and Assistant Chief Joe Kelly is second to none.
“They are a very knowledgeable team, and that makes this the best place I have ever worked,” he said. “I can definitely see Brownstown is the place I will retire from.”
The department also supports veterans, which is dear to his heart, Arnold said.
Over the years, Arnold has owned several martial arts gyms and currently owns one in Decker.
“Martial arts has always been a huge part of my life, and I was blessed to be inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2018,” he said. “I also own a professional MMA promotion called Southern Indiana Combat Production with the next promotion being in Evansville on Oct. 22.”
He eventually hopes to do a promotion in Jackson County.
For the moment, Arnold is living in an apartment in Brownstown but plans to eventually buy a home for his family in the Scottsburg area.
The hiring of Arnold means the Brownstown Police Department now has eight officers, which is a full complement, Hanner said.