Chief Paul T. Maddox, Editor In Chief

Chief Paul Maddox graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1990. He played the trumpet throughout high school and was offered a full tuition music scholarship to Henderson State University in Arkadelphia where he planned to work towards becoming a high school band director.

His interest turned toward the field of law enforcement just prior to beginning college. Being only 19 and too young to work as a policeman in Arkansas, he joined the U.S. Navy in hopes of being a Navy Master at Arms (Navy policeman). In 1991, he was initially assigned to the USS Inchon (LPH-12), which was home ported in Norfolk, Va., While stationed on the ship, he took part in a nine-month Mediterranean cruise that allowed him to visit much of Europe. In 1994, Maddox completed the 12-week Navy Police Academy at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and was assigned to the Base Police Department at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece. He was promoted to MA2 (E-5) and supervised the 12-hour night patrol shift at the command. While in Greece, he was awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal, which made him eligible to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

After serving 12 months in Greece, he returned to Lackland for Military Police K-9 Handler training. Upon completion of the 13-week dog school, Maddox was awarded "Top Honor Graduate" distinction and was able to choose orders to Naval Base Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. He served two years there as a K-9 patrolman, dog trainer, FTO, and police instructor.

After serving a total of 6.5 years in the Navy, Maddox returned home and went to work for the Garland County Sheriff's Department assigned to Juvenile Detention. He served in that capacity for two years.

In July 2000, Maddox was hired by the Arkansas State Police and commissioned as an Arkansas State Trooper. He worked as a highway trooper in Fordyce for 4.5 years and as the ASP Honor Guard Bugler during three of those years.

Maddox currently lives in Hot Springs with his Rottweiler, Flex. When he is "off duty," the Chief enjoys riding motorcycles, playing the trumpet and any activities conducted at the nearby lakes.

Chief Maddox’s OFF DUTY Awards include:

• Arkansas Off Duty Original Staff Recognition Award

• $3,000 Sales Award with 2004 High Sales Attachment

• Adopt-A-Highway Award

• Hooter’s Restaurant Achievement Award 

• Former Police Ribbon

• Honorable Military Service Recognition Ribbon

• Law Enforcement Device 

• K-9 Device

• Scuba Device

• Musician Device

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Lt. Richard Braughton, Advertising Sales Boss

Lieutenant Richard Braughton graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1990. In September of the same year, he entered the Air Force. In August 1991, he married Tonya, which to whom he is still married.

His interest was in computers, but the Air Force decided otherwise. He was sent to Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas to become an Aeromedical Services Technician. Upon graduation, he was first stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. During this 1 ½-year assignment, he became introduced to the reality of emergency medicine when he responded to an aircraft mishap where both pilots were killed.

Richard’s next assignment landed him at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. During his 4-year tenure at Ramstein, he was deployed to many countries. The more noteworthy are Morocco for NASA support missions, Switzerland for Presidential support, Zaire for Operation Restore Hope, and Senegal to help evacuate the embassy in Sierra Leone. Other countries include: the Azores, Bermuda, Bosnia, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and Uganda. This assignment gave him vast amounts of medical experience and he witnessed many beautiful and also atrocious sights. He was awarded his rank of E-5 (SSgt) here.

The latest chapter in Richard’s Air Force career occurred at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota where he stayed for 6 years. As an NCO, he became the section NCOIC of Flight Medicine. At Minot, he performed helicopter search and rescue operations. His travels from this assignment led him to Kuwait for Operation Desert Fox. There he flew an Aerovac mission to retrieve a terminal patient from the United Arab Emirates. Probably the most remarkable medical event in his career was when he delivered a baby in the back of a moving ambulance. Another significant event during this period was the birth of his son, Richard Oliver in May 2000.

After serving almost 12 years in the military, Richard decided it was time to change gears. In 2002, he entered college. He has since earned his Associate’s of Arts at National Park Community College and is now attending Henderson State University working towards a degree in Public Administration.

Richard currently lives in Hot Springs with his wife and son. When he is "off duty," Richard likes to work on his computer or go fishing, when he is not entertaining his son.

Lt. Braughton’s OFF DUTY Awards include:

• Arkansas Off Duty Original Staff Recognition Award

• $500 Sales Award

• Honorable Military Service Recognition Ribbon

• Emergency Medical Device

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