(a) The Director of the Department of Correction, who shall be the executive, administrative, budgetary, and fiscal officer of the Department of Correction, shall be appointed by the Board of Corrections at a salary fixed by the Board of Corrections which shall not exceed the maximum salary for the position established by law.

(b) The director shall be qualified for the position by character, ability, education, training, and successful administrative experience in correctional or related fields.

(c) The director shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Corrections.

(d) Subject to the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures prescribed by the Board of Corrections, the director shall:

(1) Administer the Department of Correction and supervise the administration of all institutions, facilities, and services under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction;

(2) Employ such personnel as are required in the administration of the provisions of this act, provided that the employment of personnel shall be in accordance with the applicable laws and personnel regulations of the state;

(3) Institute programs for the training and development of personnel within the Department of Correction and have authority to suspend, discharge, or otherwise discipline personnel in accordance with policies prescribed by the Board of Corrections;

(4) Make an annual report to the Board of Corrections, which will be forwarded to the Governor and the General Assembly, on the work of the Department of Correction, including statistics and other data, income derived by the Department of Correction from agriculture, livestock, and other farming activities and from prison inmates' activities, a summary of expenditures of the Department of Correction, and progress reports regarding internal issues such as inmate discipline, utilization of programming, facilities and bed space utilization, upkeep issues, and construction needs;

(5) Cooperate with the Department of Community Correction, the Parole Board, the Arkansas Sentencing Commission, judicial districts, counties, and municipalities to provide the guidance and services required to ensure a full range of correctional options for the state as a whole; and

(6)

(A) Designate those employees of the Department of Correction who shall have the powers of peace officers in the enforcement of criminal laws to the extent they apply to employees, inmates, and persons on Department of Correction property, while participating in the search and capture of an inmate who has escaped custody, or while assisting law enforcement officers in the search and capture of any fugitive or escapee from another jurisdiction.

(B) The employees so designated have the authority to use blue rotating or flashing emergency lights on Department of Correction vehicles and exercise other law enforcement powers exercised by police and other law enforcement personnel.