A former Bryant police detective has filed a lawsuit against the City of Bryant, Police Chief Carl Minden, and Mayor Chris Treat. The officer claims she was fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle on alleged misconduct within the police department.
Note that as of the filing date on Friday December 12, 2025, the City of Bryant and the other defendants had not yet filed their responses to the lawsuit. The allegations in the complaint represent Hastings’ side of the story; the city and officials will have the opportunity to respond in court and present their defense. The outcome of this case could have implications for the City of Bryant’s governance and could test the strength of Arkansas’s whistleblower protections for public employees.
The 24-page complaint, filed in Saline County Circuit Court, outlines a timeline of events leading up to her termination. It accuses the city’s top officials of violating Arkansas whistleblower law, as well as the officer’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful termination, defamation, emotional distress, and other claims. It also gives a detailed picture of the alleged conflicts that preceded her firing…