A former Arkansas fire chief has received probation after pleading guilty in a payroll scheme investigators said diverted city money through inflated work hours. Investigators Said Wright Inflated Copeland’s HoursThe case began after Johnson firefighters raised questions about time records showing Copeland working multiple shifts for the department. Copeland was a Springdale firefighter, but investigators determined that the City of Johnson paid him $8,865 between January 1 and May 13, 2025. Wright, who was Johnson’s fire chief and acted as Copeland’s supervisor for the city work, approved those payments. Copeland allegedly told investigators that Wright inflated the hours so part of his city paycheck could be transferred to the chief.