Randy Langhover got into law enforcement after being the victim of a break-in in May 1974.

Fifty years later, Langhover is still at it. Langhover was sworn in by County Judge Arthur Carter as a Carroll County deputy sheriff under Sheriff Dwan Treat on May 24, 1974.

“Earlier that month, we had a break-in at Cosmic Cavern, where I was manager, and now am owner,” Langhover said. “A neighbor got a partial description and at that time there had been a rash of break-ins. They only got $120 but I was determined to find the culprits. This incident is what started me thinking I wanted to work in law enforcement. For quite some time I started riding nights with the Green Forest officers since I knew Gary Phillips, the chief, pretty well. I’ve always been good on the radio so I helped at the county jail and Eureka Springs PD.”

Langhover has worked in various capacities under 11 sheriffs, saying each was unique in handling their responsibilities.

While serving under the late Chuck Medford, Langhover said he and fellow deputy Archie Rousey once confiscated a water well.

“That was interesting,” he said. “We watched the Empire well driller pull it out of the ground for nonpayment and take it home.”

His worst day as a deputy, Langhover said, came in 1999 when he was called to a fatal accident at Carrollton. The victim was former University of Arkansas football star Brandon Burlsworth.

“Someone brought me his billfold and when I found out who it was my heart sank,” Langhover said. “Just got engaged to be married, was getting his master’s degree from the U of A, and inducted into the Indianapolis Colts football team, and it was all taken from him in a split second.”

Langhover put himself through the police academy as a constable in 1992 since he hadn’t served as a fulltime deputy.

Langhover said he “technically” retired in 2002 after his wife died of cancer but has stayed on to help with civil papers on a voluntary basis. He said he has worked with the current sheriff, Daniel Klatt, for 17 years.

Langhover has served as a constable off and on since 1984. He underwent quadruple bypass surgery in September 2022 but has slowly gotten back to helping when he can. He will be the Northeast constable again in 2025. About five years ago, Langhover was promoted to sergeant of the reserve deputies.

Langhover has many memories from his time as a deputy.

“There are a lot of good things come out of being a deputy, and still do for me,” he said. “I have saved a few lives, some that were contemplating suicide. Some that were on the verge of being attacked by animals, wild and domestic, and a few that were even lost and had no idea how to get back to civilization. There have been a lot of wrecks that I worked that had I not been there could have turned out disastrous and I know inside that I have and will continue to help any way I can.”

Friends and coworkers in law enforcement are invited to help celebrate Langhover’s anniversary as a deputy from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.