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Brandon Tollett – Associate Attorney

Brandon Tollett, Esq.

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“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore R.

Brandon Tollett is an Arkansas-based attorney and public safety leader with a multidisciplinary background spanning criminal justice, higher education, and executive-level corrections oversight. He earned his Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law in 2025, complementing earlier graduate and undergraduate degrees in organizational leadership and business management, where he graduated with distinction and summa cum laude honors. His legal practice focuses on criminal defense and domestic relations, supported by extensive experience in law enforcement operations, policy development, and institutional leadership.

Prior to entering private practice, Brandon served in several senior leadership roles, including Chief of Police and Director of Emergency Management at Ouachita Baptist University and as a member of the Arkansas Board of Corrections. A certified law enforcement instructor and active educator, he has trained both civilian and professional audiences in areas such as active threat response, criminal justice, and leadership. His career reflects a commitment to public service, upholding constitutional rights, and the effective administration of justice across both legal and law enforcement domains.

Education:

  • Juris Doctorate, UALR-William H. Bowen School of Law, 2025
  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, Mercy University, 2020
    • Graduated with Distinction
  • Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Government/Nonprofit Administration, Mercy University, 2019
    • Graduated Summa Cum Laude
  • Associate of Arts, National Park College, 2017

Law Enforcement Education:

  • School of Law Enforcement Supervision-Session LIII, Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, 2019
  • Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development, Ouachita Baptist University Police Department, 2019
  • Homeland Security Liaison Officer, Department of Homeland Security/Arkansas Fusion Center, 2019
  • Investigative Interviewing Techniques, Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, 2018
  • Law Enforcement Instructor Development, Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, 2018
  • Basic Crisis Negotiator Certification Course, Hot Springs Police Department, 2018
  • Basic and Intermediate School Resource Officer Certification Courses, Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, 2016
  • Basic Swat Operator Certification Course, Tier One Group/Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, 2016
  • Basic Law Enforcement Academy 2016-B, Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, 2016
  • Part-Time/ Specialized Law Enforcement Certification Course, Garland County Sheriff’s Office/CLEST, 2014
  • Direct Supervision for Executives, National Institute of Corrections-Dep. of Justice, 2014
  • Direct Supervision for First Line Supervisors, National Institute of Corrections-Dep. of Justice, 2014
  • Jail Standards Course, Garland County Sheriff’s Office/CLEST, 2014
  • 1,992 hours of recorded continuing education, Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, 2014-Current

Professional Experience:

  • Attorney, Stuart Cearley Law Group, November 2025 – Current
    • Provides representation as a criminal defense attorney and in domestic relations actions.
  • Arkansas Board of Corrections, January 2024 – October 2025
    • Oversee the general affairs of the Department of Corrections, Department of Community Corrections, and Arkansas Correctional School District, including proper use of over $600 million in corrections funds, management of approximately 6,000 positions, and promulgation of rules and policies.
    • Directly supervise the Secretary of Corrections, Director of Corrections, Director of Community Corrections, Arkansas Correctional School District Superintendent, and staff assigned to the board of corrections.
  • Chief of Police and Director of Emergency Management, Ouachita Baptist University, 2023-2025
    • Provide strategic planning for the department and university related to public safety and continuity of security operations, focusing on a full hazards approach to include natural and manmade disasters, mass casualty incidents, criminal incidents, and biological hazards.
    • Manage the operations of the department to ensure the department is providing adequate public safety service, including staffing, fiscal, policies and procedures, and compliance of state and federal laws.
    • Coordinate with area agencies for training, event preparations, crisis planning, and continuity of operations.
    • Develop and manage policies and procedures for the university-wide emergency communication systems (OBU ALERT).
  • Veterans Legal Services Clinic- William H. Bowen School of Law, August-December 2024
    • Under the direction of the clinic director, represented clients in the correction of military records through the Boards of Correction of Military Records and the Board of Correction of Naval Records.
    • Under the direction of the clinic director, represented clients in appealing veteran claims through the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).
  • Dean of Students, Ouachita Baptist University, 2022-2023
    • Managed staff within the Office of Student Development.
    • Collaborated with other university partners to manage student conduct and care, including developing policies and procedures consistent with FERPA, ADA, and Title IX of the Federal Civil Rights Act.
  • Chief of Police, Jessieville School District (Arkansas), 2022
    • Responsible for the safety and security of the school district, training and advising staff regarding security matters, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, management of criminal investigations, proper evidence management, and maintaining positive community engagement to ensure that concerns were addressed and the fear of crime was reduced.
    • (2019) Advised the district on the development of the police department, including the development of the project master plan, budget, staffing plans, policies and procedures, and documents needed to gain compliance with state law and for requesting an ORI.
  • Operations Commander, Ouachita Baptist University, 2018-2022
    • Assisted in the development of the university police department from its founding in 2018, through its development as a full-service police agency. This included the development of the project master plan, project management plan, budget, staffing plans, policies and procedures, training, and resource acquisition.
    • Supervised law enforcement and civilian staff, managed internal affairs investigations and criminal investigations, conducted event planning, and coordinated with outside agencies for continuity of operations.
  • Various Positions, Garland County Sheriff’s Office (Arkansas), 2014-2018
    • As a sergeant, appointed to the transition team and participated in the development and implementation of the new detention center. This included assisting with a 300% staffing increase, development of policies and procedures, and training staff in the direct supervision philosophy and use of the facility.
    • Assisted in the development of a redefined school resource officer program and other projects.
    • Served in various positions within the detention division, enforcement division, and as a Tactical Response Team member. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant before leaving to assist in the development of the police department at Ouachita Baptist University.

Professional Instruction Experience:

  • Instructor of Criminal Justice, Ouachita Baptist University, 2023-Current
    • Developed curriculum for various undergraduate courses including Police and Society, Intro to Criminal Justice, Police and the Use of Force and an upper-level practicum.
    • Taught introductory and upper-level undergraduate courses within the Criminal Justice Department, including the state’s only practicum that culminates with a part-time/specialized law enforcement certification through the Arkansas Commission of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST).
  • ALERRT Instructor, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training/ Texas State University, 2016-Current
    • Instructed civilians in active shooter response utilizing the Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Curriculum.
    • Instructed Law Enforcement on how to respond to active attacks using research and curriculum provided by ALERRT.
    • Instructed law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical service providers how to establish a unified response to active attacks in a manner that prioritizes quickly stopping the attacker, implementing lifesaving medical care, and rapid casualty evacuation to advanced medical treatment.
    • Provided this training at the various jurisdictions within the state of Arkansas and at Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academies.
  • Law Enforcement Instructor, Ouachita Baptist University Police Department, 2018-Current
    • Taught various courses covering topics such as tactics, basic and advanced firearm use, criminal law, criminal procedure, ethics, leadership, and instructor development. These courses have been taught at OBU and various other jurisdictions within the state of Arkansas.

Certifications and Licenses:

  • Active Attorney’s License, Arkansas Bar
  • Senior Law Enforcement Certificate, Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
  • Level II Chief of Police Certificate, Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
  • Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Certificate, Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
  • Law Enforcement Instructor Certificate, Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement and Training
  • Certified Homeland Security Liaison Officer, DHS/ Arkansas Fusion Center
  • Certified ALERRT Instructor, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training/ Texas State University

Awards:

  • Arkansas Life Saving Award, 2019
  • Clark County (Arkansas) Life Saving Medal, 2021