City of Bryant releases details for officer termination amid whistleblower lawsuit

Former Bryant police officer Shanna Hastings filed a lawsuit against the City of Bryant, Police Chief Carl Minden, and Mayor Chris Treat. She claims she was fired in retaliation for whistleblowing. See links to PDF files of the City Documents below.

This is a follow-up to a story from Dec 13, 2015 at https://www.mysaline.com/hastings-vs-bryant-treat-minden.

City records have surfaced, shedding more light on the firing of former Bryant Police Officer Shanna Hastings. On Friday, December 12, 2025, Hastings filed a lawsuit against the City of Bryant, Mayor Chris Treat, and Police Chief Carl Minden, alleging whistleblower retaliation. Read below for the details and documents from the City of Bryant, along with another case Hastings filed against the City of Benton and its Police Department.

Termination Details

Newly released documents show that Hastings was officially terminated on July 21, 2025, by Mayor Treat, following a recommendation from Chief Minden. In a termination letter from the city’s Human Resource Department, Treat cited Hastings’ violation of two key internal policies:

Section 16 (Insubordination), and Section 17 (Knowing, Observing, and Obeying All Directives, Rules, Policies, Procedures, Practices and Traditions) of the department’s Standards of Conduct.

The mayor wrote, “Based on these violations, I am approving Chief Minden’s recommendation to terminate your employment effective immediately.”

See links to PDF files of the City Documents below.

Policy Violations

An internal memorandum dated July 17, 2025, authored by Chief Minden, outlines the department’s justification for the termination. The memo recounts that Hastings had requested an internal investigation into another officer on July 2, 2025, and later discussed that case with Saline County Prosecutor Chris Walton.

According to Minden, Hastings continued pursuing the matter despite being advised not to. Minden said Hastings lacked corroborating evidence for her claims of misconduct. The memo further accuses Hastings of disclosing confidential information from the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) investigation without authorization.

“Officer Hastings knowingly and purposely disseminated PSU internal investigation information after being directed not to do so,” Minden wrote, recommending her termination.

Conflicting Narratives

These documents stand in contrast to Hastings’ whistleblower lawsuit, which claims she was targeted for raising internal concerns about police misconduct. In the lawsuit, Hastings maintains she was investigating serious incidents, including possible interference by Chief Minden and misconduct by other officers related to a June 28, 2025 disturbance.

She argues that she was removed in retaliation for raising those concerns and denied due process when terminated without formal notice or a hearing.

See links to PDF files of the City Documents below.

Due Process

While the city’s termination documents point to internal policy violations, Hastings’ lawsuit states that an independent hearing officer later concluded she was not fired for job-related misconduct.

The Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training found no basis to revoke her certification, allowing her to remain eligible to serve as a police officer in Arkansas.

What’s Next

The City of Bryant has not yet filed a response in court to Hastings’ allegations. The case, filed in Saline County Circuit Court, is being watched closely as a test of Arkansas’s whistleblower protections and due process standards for public employees.

The defendants have the opportunity to contest Hastings’ claims through the legal process. A court date has not yet been scheduled.

Related

It should be noted that Hastings previously worked as a police officer for the City of Benton and was dismissed from her employment there. She filed suit against the City of Benton and Benton Police Department, alleging gender discrimination as cause for her determination, since she became pregnant. She alleges she was not offered light duty. The City alleges she was. The case stayed open for approximately two years with no further activity and therefore was dismissed by the Court.

Documents