Fayetteville police chief announces promotions

Matthew Townsend and Jon Haydon / Fayetteville Police Department

The city’s police chief announced that officers Matthew Townsend and Jon Haydon have been promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Sgt. Townsend was hired in January 2012, and has spent nearly 10 years working on both night shift and day shift patrols. While in the patrol division, Townsend served as a field training officer and on the department’s emergency response team where he now serves as a team leader.

Townsend holds a Senior Law Enforcement Certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas.

Sgt. Haydon started his law enforcement career in Bryant in 2011, and was hired by the Fayetteville Police Department in January 2016.

During his time in Fayetteville, Haydon also worked on both night and day shift squads. He transferred to the special operations division in 2019, and was later assigned to the day shift A squad. Haydon has served as a field training officer, law enforcement instructor, accident reconstructionist, and C.I.T instructor. He has worked closely with the department’s pilot social work program since its inception, according to a department post on social media.