According to statistics from the FBI, Oklahoma’s violent crime rate plummeted nearly 9% between 2018 and 2019.
These statewide crime stats highlight the positive efforts the state’s law enforcement officers are making. Serious training and education, alongside a commitment to serve and protect, are the key components to becoming a trusted member of Oklahoma’s law enforcement community, whether at the county, municipal, or state level.
Jobs with the Oklahoma State Highway Patrol
The members of the Oklahoma State Highway Patrol are responsible for patrolling over 111,00 miles of roads and highways in the state. One of the challenges faced by these officers is the use of Oklahoma highways as a means to transport drugs to the eastern United States. To combat this, almost 800 officers of the Oklahoma State Highway Patrol serve the public with a high level of professionalism.
The Oklahoma State Highway Patrol has a number of specialized units, including a Bomb Squad that utilizes robots, aircraft, and a motorcycle division. The Special Operations unit has officers who each have a drug-sniffing canine assigned to them. There is also a Lake Patrol and a Dive Team who are involved in search and rescue missions and responding to natural disasters. Members of the Tactical Team are dispersed throughout the state, so they can react quickly to most situations.
Applicants for state highway patrol officer jobs in Oklahoma must be at least 23 years old, but not older than 45 when they start at the academy. An associate degree or a minimum of 62 hours of college coursework is required.
Jobs with Sheriff’s Departments in Oklahoma
Sheriff’s departments in Oklahoma are responsible for providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the state, as well as overseeing county correctional facilities and providing court security services.
In many parts of the state, the efforts of the county sheriff’s departments have resulted in exciting changes aimed at the safety and well-being of the citizens they protect. For example, the work of the field division of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in an 85% decrease in crime in the unincorporated areas of Oklahoma City since 1997.
Cleveland County
Based in Norman, the county seat, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has been in existence since 1889. Sheriff’s deputies work closely with the public to provide a safe community.
Candidates for deputy sheriff positions must be at least 21 years old, must be a U.S. citizen, must possess a high school diploma or GED, must have a valid OK driver’s license, and must have no felony or domestic violence convictions.
Oklahoma County
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, based in Oklahoma City, includes a number of specialized divisions, including a Detention Bureau, a Judicial Bureau, an Operations Bureau, and a Support Bureau.
Applicants must successfully complete the department’s hiring process, which includes passing a written exam, physical exam, background investigation, and psychological testing.
Tulsa County
Based in Oklahoma City, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office serves residents of this county with distinction. The agency uses community policing techniques to keep up with residents in the county and stay on top of local issues. Deputies here also oversee the county’s David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center.
Candidates for sheriff’s deputy jobs must be at least 21 years old, must be a U.S. citizen, must hold a high school diploma or GED, and must have a valid and current Oklahoma driver’s license.
Jobs with Municipal Police Departments in Oklahoma
Dedicated, well-trained police officers are needed throughout Oklahoma to hold the line against crime in the state. In cities like Tulsa, which is home to more than 400,000 citizens and more than 9 million annual visitors, police department efforts include innovative policing techniques designed to curb crime and protect citizens.
Norman
Norman is known as a relatively safe city, and the Norman Police Department aims to keep it that way by ensuring the 120,000 residents of the city feel secure there.
Norman PD job applicants must be 21-45 years old and have taken at least 60 hours of college courses. Thirty of the 60 hours can be waived under some conditions for applicants who have 3 years of active duty military service or 2 years of law enforcement experience with a police department that has 25 or more certified police officers.
Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Police Department is comprised of 1,169 police officers and 300 additional staff members. The department has its own forensic and drug labs.
Police officers in Oklahoma City must be 21-45 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED. They must also successfully complete a number of pre-employment tests, including a physical fitness evaluation and academy aptitude test.
Tulsa
The Tulsa Police Department includes about 750 sworn officers who provide law enforcement services for the city’s nearly 400,000 citizens. The department has its own Air Support Unit, Bomb Squad, Cyber Crimes Unit, and Dive Team.
Those looking to join the Tulsa PD must be 21-45 years old and hold a bachelor’s degree with a C+ average or better.
Oklahoma Law Enforcement Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police officers and sheriff’s deputies in Oklahoma earned an average salary of $55,740 as of May 2021.
The following police/sheriff’s department salary data was sourced from May 2021 BLS stats (early career = 25th percentile, senior/late career = 90th percentile).
Police Officer Salaries
Police officers in towns and cities in Oklahoma tend to make some of the best money of any law enforcement personnel in the state. That’s particularly true in the Tulsa area, where officers in Tulsa and Broken Arrow command the highest top-end salaries in the state.
Lawton Police Department
- Entry – $39,290
- Mid-Level – $46,840
- Senior – $76,840
Norman Police Department
- Entry – $37,100
- Mid-Level – $40,700
- Senior – $74,270
Oklahoma City Police Department
- Entry – $49,920
- Mid-Level – $61,190
- Senior – $97,860
Tulsa Police Department
- Entry – $47,970
- Mid-Level- $60,380
- Senior – $77,350
Sheriff’s Deputy Salaries
County sheriff’s deputies often start off at relatively low salaries, and in many cases are required to work as detention officers for a period of time before hitting the street as patrol deputies. Counties near larger towns tend to have higher pay scales.
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office
- Entry – $37,100
Texas County Sheriff’s Department
- Entry – $37,320
- Mid-Level – $47,250
- Senior – $60,750
Adair County Sheriff’s Office
- Entry – $37,740
- Mid-Level – $47,670
- Senior – $78,330
State Trooper and State Police Salaries
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has a lot of roads to patrol and a lot of responsibilities to take on, and they are unmerciful on recruits at the Academy when molding them into the right kind of individuals to take on those roles. The pay is not the highest in the state, but the opportunities extend everywhere, and into many specialty roles that may not be available in smaller agencies.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
- Entry – $39,890
- Senior – $78,350
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2022.