Oklahoma AG is launching a new program to recognize law enforcement officers

Four law enforcement officers – two police officers, a sheriff’s deputy and an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman – will be honored by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond as Regional Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.

The program is part of a new initiative Drummond launched in May to recognize the work of state law enforcement officers. Drummond said the four were chosen from a pool of 44 applicants that included professionals from the city, county, tribes and state.

Drummond said the idea for the awards program came from his work on an organized crime task force created by his office earlier this year. He said part of the effort was building relationships with tribal, state, federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement officials.

“As a result of that experience, I realized that we need to celebrate the best and brightest members of Oklahoma’s law enforcement community,” he said.

Drummond’s new program comes as the attorney general considers a run for governor in 2026. Candidates across the political spectrum often tout support for police and fire departments in their campaigns.

Drummond, however, declined to discuss a possible race for governor. “I think it’s premature,” he said. “The problem is that the day I announce I’m re-elected or I announce another office is the day people are going to say, ‘Oh, everything Drummond does is political.'”

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Drummond said he was focused on his job as attorney general — the state’s top law enforcement official — and part of that job is making sure law enforcement officers are recognized for their work. He said the finalists for the program were nominated and chosen by other representatives of the law enforcement community.

Mike Fina, the executive director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, an association that represents and advocates for the state’s cities and towns, said he believed recognition programs like Drummond’s could have a positive impact on the 587 cities and towns in the state. stands. and assisting in the recruitment of new law enforcement officers.

“We have trouble finding police stations in small towns,” Fina said. “I wish he would do the same with volunteer firefighters. It’s a big battle there too.”

The program has also received praise from police, union and municipal officials.

“It’s great to see the AG’s office recognize the great work our state’s law enforcement officers do day in and day out,” said Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Gary Knight, a spokesman for the agency, said in an email.

Echoing Knight, the state police union president said his organization hoped the awards program would reflect positively on law enforcement as a whole.

“I think society needs to be reminded often of the valuable role law enforcement plays in keeping our community and our residents safe,” said Mark Nelson, president of the Oklahoma State Fraternal Order of Police. “It is appropriate to honor officers who have done phenomenal or outstanding work and deserve recognition.”

Nelson added that law enforcement officers often don’t seek recognition and often avoid it while simply doing their job.

“We are just here to serve our communities,” he said. “Each time we’re able to highlight the role, even specifically some of these officers, to the public about what we do … most people don’t see that day in and day out.”

Who are the nominees for 2024?

The nominees and four regional winners will be recognized at a reception on Dec. 2, during which the state’s Officer of the Year will be announced.

In a press release about the program, Drummond said the four finalists represented “courage, selflessness and unwavering dedication.” The finalists include:

Detective Lauren Cunningham of the Oklahoma City Police Department, representing the northwestern region of the state.

Cunningham is a 16-year police veteran. She has served in the homicide unit, investigating crimes against children and domestic violence cases. Drummond cited Cunningham’s investigation into the fatal 2023 Whiskey Barrel Saloon shooting as an example of her work.

“They spent weeks gathering video, photographs and 3D imaging technology to show the defendants’ movements at the crime scene,” Drummond’s press release said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Derek Fry, representing the northeastern region of the state.

Fry, a nine-year veteran of the highway patrol, is one of two recipients of the 2023 Trooper of the Year Award. Drummond said Fry was instrumental in stopping an armed robbery suspect in Kansas.

After deadly force was authorized, Drummond said Fry shot at a suspect’s car near Highway 412. The suspect lost control of the vehicle and ran toward a populated area. Fry chased the suspect, who was armed with an AK-47, and fatally shot the man. Fry currently works at the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center.

Norman Police Chief Benjamin Gomez, representing the southwestern region of the state.

In 2023, Gomez was named the Norman Police Department’s Officer of the Year, recognizing his work in “all facets” of police work, including filing more than 230 felony charges, completing more than 819 calls for aid and serving more than 360 charges. hours of community work.

Drummond praised Gomez for his quick actions that saved a two-year-old child who was choking and his efforts that led to the arrest of a couple accused of trafficking fentanyl.

Bryan County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Murrayrepresenting the southeastern region of the state.

Drummond said Murray managed to subdue a suspect who had chased his fleeing wife and two children. The man’s pickup had struck the woman’s car, causing her to crash into a tree along a highway near Achille.

Murray, who has been with the department for nearly four years, recently received the Medal of Valor from the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association for his actions in the case.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma AG Drummond launches award to recognize officers