The Safety Signal - 204.61.10.226

[Pages:20]the Safety Signal

August 2011

Author says it is the stories that count

Oklahoma Highway Patrol - the first 75 years

Bob Burke made an impression on Col. McCurtain County. "They were the law in our

Kerry Pettingill who heard him speak at a

county," Burke said. "They were honest, hard-

Leadership Oklahoma class years ago. That

working men that the whole county looked up

impression quickly surfaced recently when talks to."

about a Dept. of Public

Burke's admiration of

Safety 75th anniversary

troopers continued during

book began to take

his college days at the

place.

University of Oklahoma in

"I love

the late 1960s. As a

Oklahoma history, and

journalism student and

Bob is the author of

newsman at KOMA and

several books on the

KTOK Radio in Oklahoma

matter," said Pettingill.

City, he often promoted

He said Burke

traffic safety by

has written well over

interviewing troopers,

100 books that are

especially on holiday

related to Oklahoma or

weekends. His

Oklahomans to include

OPERATION

a autobiography on

SAFEGUARD on KOMA

former CIA Director

won a special award from

James Woolsey who

the Oklahoma Association

was born in Tulsa. Yet

of Broadcasters.

it's Burke's knowledge

Burke's friendship with

and years of

Attorney and award-winning author Bob troopers allowed him to ride

involvement with, and Burke will write the Dept. of Public

with them during on-duty

support of, the highway Safety's 75th anniversary book.

hours. Merlin Johns, who

patrol that Pettingill

welcomes and is counting on.

manned the

(Continued)

"I was impressed with his passion and knowledge of the patrol, and he was the first person I thought of when Cpt. Chris West and I started talking about putting together next year's anniversary book," Pettingill said.

Burke has deep roots with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that began in high school in his hometown of Broken Bow. His childhood heroes were two troopers, Bob Pogue and Hubert Hibbins, who were the only troopers assigned to

county unit in Cleveland County, took Burke under his wing and even invited him to his home where Merlin's wife, Carol, fed the young

If you would like to submit information or a story idea to be published please send your information to Public Information Officer Deanna Beckham Hargus, editor, via e-mail to dhargus@dps.state.ok.us

or call 405-425-7708.

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Book (Con'd.)

newscaster fried chicken and all the fixins. That led to a lifelong friendship. Burke occasionally rode with other troopers. He even used the Spanish he was learning in classes at OU to help troopers in stops involving drivers who spoke only Spanish.

In 1969, Burke was rescued by then-chief of the highway patrol Bill Mayberry and 17 OHP units, filled with troopers in full riot gear, when he was stranded in the administration building during a riot at Langston University. Burke had gone to the campus to cover the story of the college's president who had been fired by the Board of Regents. When his KTOK cruiser's tires were slashed, and students tossed rocks through the building windows, Burke called for help. In a short time, Mayberry and a string of OHP units a half-mile long came through the gates of the college. Burke was unharmed and the Mayberry gave Burke a ride back to Oklahoma City.

Burke also developed a strong friendship with Ace McCowan when that legendary trooper was stationed in McCurtain County.

For 31 years, Burke, a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, has been a workers' compensation lawyer, representing many troopers injured in the line of duty. As a historian, he has written 106 historical nonfiction books, all about Oklahoma. His biographies of great Oklahomans such as Wiley Post, David Boren, Will Rogers, George Nigh, and Ralph Ellison have won many awards. Two of his biographies were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Burke has written more historical nonfiction books than anyone in history.

Now, Burke's project is to write the 75th anniversary history of OHP.

"I am thrilled to share with the world the incredible story of the men and women who have protected our great state for three quarters of a century," Burke said. "I can't wait to hear the hundreds of stories that troopers, old and new, contribute to the lore of this special group of people."

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eViews

Trp. Troy Gilmore

Subject: Trooper Troy Gilmore

From DPS Comment Page:

I would like to thank Trooper Troy Gilmore for helping my wife and myself after our accident on eastbound Interstate 44 this afternoon. He was very professional and courteous especially in the rainy conditions that he had to work in. He helped to divert traffic away from our disabled vehicle and provided a barrier during the downpour protecting us from the flow of traffic. He was great and is a wonderful example of what officers strive to be, helpful, protecting and courteous. Please pass this on to his superior if you could. I know he won't win any medals for the work he did today but for my wife it will not go forgotten. Thanks.

Governor addresses Command One staff

Photo: Lori Swanson After receiving a situation report in Oklahoma Command 1 regarding the wildfires in northeastern parts of Oklahoma City, Gov. Mary Fallin addressed the emergency personnel, thanking them for their hard work and service, and ensuring workers that they would receive the resources and support they needed to battle the ongoing wildfires. At the briefing were Trp. Warren Phillips (left), Fallin, Oklahoma City Fire Chief G. Keith Bryant, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Director Albert Ashwood, Aaron Cooper, governor's office, and Oklahoma City Fire Department Deputy Chief Cecil Clay. Communications division personnel also at the briefing were Lt. Tracy Treib (seated) and Communications Officers Lori Hedges with the OHP Command Post Operations division. .

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Troop K news

By Jennifer Rupp Troop Secretary

Jennifer Rupp, Troop K secretary, sends photos of a special occasion they celebrated at headquarters.

"We had a birthday party here at Troop K," said Rupp. "It was Captain Royster's 50th and Lt. James's 40th. We had it Friday August 5, at 1 p.m. The captain's actual birth date was August 6, and the lieutenant's was August 7.

"People who attended from the highway patrol were Major Maples, Lt. Watson, Kirby Logan and Rick Fagan,

retired captain. Captain Royster's wife Susan, Lt. James's wife Trisha, two daughters Kamryn and Kelsea, sister Dahrenda Mitchell, brother-in-law Robert Mitchell and their two kids McKae and Brendan were also there."

Rupp and Communications Officer Dawn Ware hosted the event.

"It was a surprise party, and they were surprised," Rupp said.

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OLETS division receives new computers

Frank Young has been teaching the Dept. of Public Safety's OLETS certification class for 22 years. A former communications officer, Young has quite an undertaking to annually instruct hundreds of dispatchers from approximately 350 law enforcement agencies statewide. Imagine his elation when new computers were delivered; computers that not only helped advance his field of instruction, but also provide a more efficient and expeditious process for the dispatchers who are trained on them.

"With all new hardware and software, we have been provided with better features, and we have been given the capability for the software to intuitively act with the operator," said Young. "For example, when entering a missing person into the computer, certain fields are mandatory for particular circumstances. The software recognizes that fact and adjusts accordingly."

Young said while using the old software, if they ran a vehicle check and it came up "not on file," the process was more involved.

"We would then have to run the vehicle identification number through a completely separate program," said Young. "And that was just to be able to provide what type of vehicle it was to the requesting officer. This new software allows you to integrate and multiply those applications."

He said one of the best things about the new software is its ease of use, and he likened its simplicity to basic familiarity to e-mail.

"These computers are very operator friendly. The software falls more in line with using the e-mail

process, so it has been easier with which to train," said Young. "Practically everyone these days is familiar with an in-box, sent-box, trash-box; much like that of an e-mail program which makes instructing these guys a smoother process."

Young averages about three courses each month, certifying new dispatchers who are required to take the class within their first six months of employment. The students are DPS employees as well as representatives from sheriff's offices and police departments statewide.

Young said the new computers were distributed to all law enforcement agencies in the state who had the OLETS terminals.

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Troop F news

by Cpt. Ronnie Hampton

Cpt. Ronald Hampton posts news and troop business for Troop F. Cotton Allen is continuing with therapy at Mercy Rehab in Ardmore We are beginning to plan our Troop F Christmas Party for early December possibly looking at December 8 or 15. The Ardmore Masons have agreed to host this once again providing the food and location. Please keep those dates in mind because we want to extend an invite to you and your families. The troopers in Troop F are working very hard. Just in the past few weeks they have assisted Johnston County Emergency Management with a large fire. I received a very nice phone call from Betty Roan commenting on how the troopers put themselves in harm's way to clear residences and assist the rural firefighters. On the same day we assisted Garvin County/ Pauls Valley PD with a barricaded subject who later took his own life. We had two pursuits this week with both subjects apprehended; one after a brief manhunt. Troop F troopers continue to lead the rural troops in DUI arrests and seat belt enforcement. Five months of 2010 crash data was examined for the highest collision areas in each county. Troopers made those areas a top priority through visibility and enforcement. The 2011 crash data for those areas showed that the increased law enforcement presence had completely eliminated collisions in those areas. I have received a lot of return e-mails since we started this e-mail group from many of you desiring to stay informed of current events, so I hope you find the information informative. Anytime you need anything from the troopers or supervisory staff at Troop F feel free to call or e-mail

Take care and be safe.

Cpt. Ronnie Hampton reports that, "The Troop F `pistol

team' got together recently." They are Trp. Darren

Alexander (left), retiree Leon Brown, retiree Jack

Plunkett, retiree Louie Harmon, Trp. Doug George,

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retiree John McBride and retiree Roger Lee.

Driver License Services news

Officials with the Dept. of Public Safety and the Oklahoma State University Police Department got together and came up with a great idea. They designated two evenings to help international students more efficiently test for their driver licenses. The plan worked.

slammed at this location. So when you're already busy to begin with, trying to help someone who is having difficulty communicating can complicate the situation. We organized this to help minimize the long lines we experience at this time of year, and it was successful."

She said Officer Adam Queen came to them with the idea.

Cell photos: Margie Ralston

Oklahoma State University Police Dept. Officer Adam Queen talks with international students before they are tested at the exam station.

Driver License Examiner Margie Ralston said the exam site had experienced situations in the past with language barriers which would hinder their progression of service to other customers.

"Generally when it's the first time these students come in from out of the country, they come to the exam station in groups," said Ralston. "It's just easier to help them without a room full of people because the language barrier can make it extremely difficult at times. We get

"He suggested we open after hours to accommodate these particular students, and we thought it was a good suggestion," said Ralston.

On August 18, Queen secured a bus to transport about 30 students to the exam site location.

"On our end, we called the DPS computer people and made sure they didn't shut us down so we could issue the licenses after hours," said Ralston. "In the pictures it looks like we were having a good time. It's the first time we had ever done this, and we think we're going to do it one more time. It was a wellcoordinated event."

The students came from Thailand, Portugal, Russia, India, Mexico, Iraq and Garbon. The session lasted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Across the state, another driver license exam station extended their hours.

On Thursday, July 21, the Broken Arrow exam site stayed open from 4:45 p.m. which is their regular closing time, until 8 p.m.

"We started early getting the word out to the public and it provided a big help to our commercial driving schools and our public schools who offer driver education to take

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License (Con'd.)

Driver

License

Examiner

Larry

Hillyard

(top left,

clockwise)

and

Examiner

Kim Roberts

conduct

Photos: Carol Jones

tests at the

Broken Arrow Exam Station. Clerk Krista

Lower (above middle) assists customers.

advantage of the extended hours," said Carol Jones, senior examiner. "We were able to process 25 additional customers and seven drive tests. The feedback from the public was wellreceived and appreciated."

Further south, a new location was opened

to help with testing. A former fire station in Ardmore, located off Veterans Boulevard is the .new exam station.

"We can handle the larger volumes of individuals that are coming to see our drivers license examiners and our driver compliance officers," said Karen Gentry, director of Driver License Services.

Gentry said the new building is much larger than the old one -- which means a more comfortable waiting area for drivers. Cutting down on the sometimes two- to three-hour wait.

"To provide a much larger area for the public for them to be able to wait inside," Gentry said. "This is a much more customer friendly facility here."

Supervisor Steve Bunyard said the new building allows examiners to have their own desks, which speeds up the process. "In the past at the old location they had to wait outside, the examiner had to get up and find the person they

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