(a)
(1) An executive head of an institution may designate and appoint at least one (1) of the employees of the institution as an institutional law enforcement officer.
(2) An employee appointed as an institutional law enforcement officer under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall exercise the authority of a law enforcement officer under the laws of this state.
(b) Before an executive head appoints an institutional law enforcement officer under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, the institution shall appear before the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training to request the creation of a new law enforcement agency as required under § 12-9-118.
(c) An institutional law enforcement officer under this section shall:
(1) Have all powers provided by law to law enforcement officers, which shall be exercised as required for the protection of the institution that appointed the institutional law enforcement officer; and
(2) Meet the standards and qualifications for certification required by the commission.
(d) The appointment of an institutional law enforcement officer under this section shall not supersede the authority of the:
(1) City police and county sheriffs with jurisdiction over the property or individuals of an institution; and
(2) Division of Arkansas State Police.
(e) An institutional law enforcement officer appointed under this section shall:
(1) Be identified by a shield or a badge bearing the name of the institution for which the institutional law enforcement officer is employed; and
(2)
(A) Have an identification card bearing his or her photograph.
(B) An identification card under subdivision (e)(2)(A) of this section shall be carried on the institutional law enforcement officer's person at all times while he or she is on duty and shall be displayed upon request.
(f)
(1) An institutional law enforcement officer's authorization to exercise powers provided by law for law enforcement officers shall be evidenced by a letter of appointment issued under the seal of an institution.
(2) An executive head or his or her designee shall maintain a file that contains:
(A) Each institutional law enforcement officer's authorization certificate as required under subdivision (f)(1) of this section; and
(B) Certificates and information as required by the commission.
(g)
(1) An executive head may revoke, in writing, an institutional law enforcement officer's authority granted under this subchapter.
(2) A copy of a revocation issued under subdivision (g)(1) of this section shall be included in the file required under subdivision (f)(2) of this section.
(3) The commission shall be notified by the institution of any change in the status of an institutional law enforcement officer.