The Thin Blue line: Oklahoma City Police Department Pt 4

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez



Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state.


First allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.


However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the thin blue line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.
Over the last several months, we have been covering the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department, and its roots in not only the US Cavalry, but the US Marshall’s Service as well. Last Month we covered from World War II, up to the work stoppage during the 1970’s, over wages.

In the 1980’s, Oklahoma City had both a boom and a bust in finances, as well as population. The population of OKC went, in 1980 from forty-five thousand to over one hundred thirty thousand in 1990. In response to the rapidly increasing crime rate, OCPD instituted a mobile crime unit, forensic training for officers, and a Field Training Program.

  

OKC Murrah Building, May 1995
Taken by Alan Radle, used with permission

On April 19th 1995, when the Oklahoma City bombing happened, one of the first people to make it to the site, mere moments after the explosion, was Sgt. Detective Mike McPherson of the Auto Theft Unit and a Bomb Squad member. He assisted with locating the vin number on the destroyed vehicle, which helped lead the authorities to be able to find Timothy McVeigh.

 

Timothy McVeigh during part of the trail in Perry, Oklahoma
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/xk9YWf 

 
The OKC Bombing was, until September 11th 2001, considered the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil. Although, by definition, it still is the worst act of domestic terrorism to this day. In response to that, the OCPD created an anti-terrorism task force, that is still in existence today. They have been instrumental in thwarting numerous terrorist threats since their inception. They have also been called to train other cities' departments in anti-terrorism.
With the inclusion of body cameras for each officer, OCPD has maintained their status of being one of the most advanced, well trained law enforcement organizations in the state of Oklahoma. They have faced, in their more than one hundred twenty years of existence, numerous challenges and trials. They have met and overcome them all, to become not only one of the oldest, but the largest police force in the state of Oklahoma.
 

Oklahoma City Police Honor Guard
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/5ZZUfA 

To the ladies and gentlemen of the OCPD, we tip our hats to you, and say a heartfelt thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the citizens of this great state.

Thank you for joining us this month as we delved into the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department. We hope you enjoyed reading about this great institution, and join us next month, as we start with the history of the Tulsa Police Department.

Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relish in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna and Judge live with her parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Oklahoma.

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The Thin Blue line: Oklahoma City Police Department Pt 3

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez



Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state.


First allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.


However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the thin blue line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.

Over the last couple of months, we have been covering the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department, and its roots in not only the US Cavalry, but the US Marshall’s Service as well. Last Month we covered up to the end of the Great Depression, talking about the service of Detective Jelly Bryce.

 

The OCPD Raiding Squad with shotguns and tommy guns. Front center: Detective "Jelly" Bryce
Wikimedia https://goo.gl/images/cqEPpi

At the end of his tenure with the OCPD, Jelly Bryce became a Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Oklahoma City. After his tenure there, he ran for, and was not elected as governor of the state of Oklahoma.

It was during World War II that the department suffered a severe manpower shortage. Up until this time, all positions required being an officer. It was during this time, that the decision was made that many of the clerical positions be allowed to have civilians employed. This freed up the officers to allow them to manage their assigned tasks.

After the completion of WWII, OCPD instituted a new training unit to increase the specialization, and professionalism of the recruits. They were put through a one hundred forty-four hour course. It was also during this time that the department created new divisions for burglary, traffic, white collar, and fingerprinting.


During the 1960’s, the department established a formal police academy, a K-9 unit, and a formal Forensics Unit. In 1969, the force started issuing the officers their firearms, a Smith and Wesson .38 special revolver. Up until this time, it was incumbent on the officers to provide their own weapons.


In the 1970’s, the OCPD began the Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP), the Selected Enforcement Unit (SEU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and added a helicopter to its list of resources. In ‘75 the officers went on a work slowdown to protest their low wages, and during the dispute, almost all six hundred officers turned in their badges. During the strike, The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol provided safety and security for the residents of Oklahoma City. After several days, however, an agreement was reached and the officers went back to work.


Thank you for joining us this month as we delved into the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department. We hope you enjoyed reading about this great institution, and join us next month, for the conclusion of the OCPD part of the Thin Blue Line series.






Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relish in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna and Judge live with her parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Oklahoma.

Facebook.com/authorAlannaRadleRodriguez
Pinterest.com/alannaradlerodr/
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The Thin Blue Line: Oklahoma City Police Department

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez


Hello Friends!

Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state of Oklahoma.

First, allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.

However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the Thin Blue Line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.

The history of the Oklahoma City Police Department begins even before the city does. In 1887, the Southern Kansas Railroad created a stop on their line called the “Oklahoma Station”, which had two railroad detectives / policemen stationed there. In December of 1887, the US Postal Service established a post office at the rail station.

When the land-run occurred in 1889, there were thousands of settlers that settled around Oklahoma City. At first, as the community was built on federal lands, the railroad detectives and US Cavalry shared the responsibility of “policing” the community.

The city was considered under Martial Law until in 1898, with the commissioning of the Oklahoma Police force. They started with 5 officers, one of which is the department’s first chief, Charles Colcord. They held court in a small tent near California Ave.

 

Oklahoma City's First Five,
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/YryPeZ

By the end of the century, however, public intoxication had become quite the problem. In the process of statehood, the citizenry approved the prohibition of liquor in Oklahoma City. During that period of Oklahoma City law, the appropriation of alcohol became desirable in foreshadow of the decades to come: the running of alcohol to drinking establishments became quite profitable.

With the signing of a new charter in 1911, The City Of Oklahoma City converted the chief of police to a Commissioner, and changed the position from being an elected position to an appointed position. When the new charter was signed, the city commissioners decided to bring in a well known US Marshall to fill the position of Commissioner of Police, by the name of Bill Tilghman.

Bill Tilghman, 1912
Wikipedia Commons,
https://goo.gl/images/QbNF9g

 

For those familiar with old west history, Tilghman is almost as well known as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. For those that are not quite as familiar, he is known for the capture of Bill Doolin, and his heavy handed approach to law enforcement. For those of us that are not as familiar with old west history, but with cinematic history, Bill Tilghman was the inspiration for the character Rooster Cogburn, in the story / movies of True Grit.



Under Tilghman’s leadership, the Oklahoma City Police Department took a stand against the endemic corruption, booze-running, prostitution filled citizenry of Oklahoma City. During this time, the OCPD was considered one of the most brutal, incorruptible police departments in the nation.


Thank you for you joining us this month as we discuss the earliest roots of the Oklahoma City Police Department, one of the oldest in the state. Please join us next month as we cover more history of the OCPD from the nineteen-teens through to the Great Depression.





Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Alanna loves the history of the state and relishes in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna lives with her husband and parents in the Edmond area. She is currently working on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Waterloo, Oklahoma.
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Pinterest.com/alannaradlerodr/
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