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The Safety Signal January 2011 a New Year, a New Decade, and a New Administration

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The Safety Signal January 2011 a New Year, a New Decade, and a New Administration the Safety Signal January 2011 A new year, a new decade, and a new administration “Michael Thompson has more to offer in state his first promotion and was dedicated his life to protecting government,” said Thompson. assigned to the Training the people of Oklahoma and the “I saw OHP as the pinnacle of division at the rank of second United States,” said then law enforcement in Oklahoma. lieutenant. In February 2000, governor-elect Mary Fallin It was a dream of mine to wear he was promoted to first upon her appointment lieutenant and assigned of the new troop commander of commissioner. “I am Training. happy to be “As given the commandant, the opportunity to one thing I was select a DPS particularly proud commissioner of was the 51st whose and 52nd competence academies. I was and really close with commitment to those who came our state have through those been proven academies, as many times well as everyone over.” else, but The especially those new governor guys,” said announced the Thompson. appointment in New Commissioner Mike Thompson (middle) In October 2003, late December selected Col. Kerry Pettingill (left) to serve as then commissioner as Thompson, chief of the highway patrol and Lt. Col. Bob Ricks a major in the Ricky Adams to serve the civilian side of the highway agency as assistant commissioner. (Continued) patrol, was appointed commissioner as the uniform. I applied three If you would like to well as cabinet secretary of times before I was accepted; submit information or safety and security. and would have applied a a story idea to be Thompson is a graduate fourth time.” published please send of the 45th Oklahoma Highway Thompson’s first your information to Patrol Academy in 1990. assignment was Grady County Public Information “When I turned 21, I in Troop G until May 1995 Officer Deanna was working for the Dept. of when he transferred to Hargus, editor, via e- Corrections and it didn’t take Oklahoma County with Troop mail to me long to realize there was A. In October 1998 he recieved [email protected] or call 405-425-7708. - 1 - Commissioner (Con’d.) promoted him to captain, and to pursue a degree when he through legislation, Thompson learned he would never make it was moved to the rank of major. passed the rank of captain without During his career with it. the OHP, Thompson has “What motivated me was simultaneously built a career when I was told I would just die with the Oklahoma National on the vine and never be promoted Guard, ultimately being past caption if I didn’t go out and promoted to colonel. He get a degree,” Thompson said. currently serves as commander “They told me I couldn’t be of the 90th Troop Command. promoted while possessing only He is a combat veteran who was basic requirements. I took that awarded the Bronze Star and conversation to heart and Combat Infantry badge after two completed my school. It was tours of duty in Iraq. He also pretty fast-paced there for awhile.” received the Humanitarian Commissioner Mike Thompson Thompson and Fallin Service Medal after his share something in common. deployment to New They are firsts in their Orleans in the aftermath of appointed and elected positions, Hurricane Katrina. respectively. Fallin is the first “I have to say that woman governor of the state, one thing I am most proud and Thompson the first black of during my years with the commissioner. Guard side of the house is To that Thompson said, what we accomplished in “I’m just happy to have the New Orleans beginning opportunity to be judged on my August 31, 2005,” merit.” Thompson said. “I had just In early January, started directing and Thompson announced Lt. Col. welcoming cadets for the Kerry Pettingill would be next academy when I got a promoted to colonel and serve call from my executive Commissioner Mike Thompson also as the new chief of the highway officer who said, ‘hey sir, serves as colonel and command of the patrol, and shortly thereafter you’ve got to be in New 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma announced his appointment of Orleans by 1900 hours.’ It National Guard. Lt. Col. Ricky Adams to serve was two days after the as assistant commissioner. levees broke following the Thompson earned a “I think both of them have hurricane, and I was called to the graduate degree in applied science all the tools to be successful, and city of New Orleans to command from Oklahoma State University I’m going to rely very heavily on and control while conducting and a graduate degree in national them for both the highway patrol support and recovery operations. security and strategic studies from and the civilian side,” said It is one of the things I’m most the United States Army War Thompson. proud of because I believe we College. He is also a graduate of really made a difference for those both the FBI National Academy people. I could see the difference and the Secret Service National we made.” I learned the Threat Assessment Center. He importance of placing the right received his undergraduate degree people in the right positions and from Langston University. how critical that was for effective Referring to his education, communications.” Thompson said he was motivated - 2 - Commissioner calls new chief ‘a great leader’ Over 100 people Lt. Col. Greg Allen Patrol as well. He’s going to be gathered to honor and welcome called everyone together as a great leader; a chief who can the new chief of the Oklahoma OHP Chaplain Highway Patrol including Sam Garner troopers, dignitaries, DPS opened the Serving in the same academy, former chief Jerry Cason (top left) visits with Col. Kerry Pettingill and Commissioner Mike Thomp- son. Pettingill (above) introduced the members of his family and then bowed (left) in prayer along with Thompson and his wife Debbie. employees, friends and ceremony with families. On January 31, as prayer. many as seven photographers Commissioner and multiple media cameras Mike Thompson welcomed make tough choices. We’re just recorded the ceremony as Lt. those gathered for the thrilled to have him.” Col. Kerry Pettingill, most ceremony. Thompson introduced recently director of Oklahoma’s “Thank you for taking two speakers who he said were Homeland Security Office, was time out of your day to be here instrumental in Pettingill’s promoted to the rank of colonel and be a part of this,” said career over the years. Former to serve as the 25th chief of the Thompson. “A lot of smiles commissioner Bob Ricks, chief highway patrol. The ceremony today because this is absolutely of the Edmond Police was a tradition that has been a great day. It’s a big day for Department, took the podium resurrected after four years of Kerry Pettingill, and it’s a big first. dormancy. day for the Oklahoma Highway - 3 - Chief (Con’d.) The standing-room-only crowd (above, clockwise) listens as former chief Jerry Cason speaks of attending the academy with Col. Kerry Pettingill. Former commissioner Bob Ricks spoke of appointing Pettingill director of Homeland Security, and Commissioner Mike Thompson reads the personnel order to Pettingill and wife Melissa promoting Pettingill to colonel and the new chief of the highway patrol. “Chief Pettingill. Has a potential. Too many nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” said people do not fulfill that Ricks. “I think the way you potential, and fortunately we national government, we had determine success of an have some that do, and Chief no direction from the state individual, is by what they have Pettingill is one of those government, and as usual, we done in the past. We too often individuals. had absolutely no direction look at someone’s potential, we “We were burdened from the state legislature. But I look at their degrees, we look at after the events of 911 to create had to reach out and find the their credentials, and we say the Office of Homeland individual whom I thought had ‘that person is bound to Security ... with nothing. We the capability of doing that. succeed.’ But so often we are had no precedent to go on. We That one individual was Chief disappointed by that word, had no direction from the Pettingill who, on his own - 4 - Chief (Con’d.) shoulders, put together a team who was ultimately judged by experts who came in and reviewed, and said that we were the top homeland security office in the country. Most had failed in what they tried to do. But through Chief Pettingill’s efforts, our bottom line, our sole purpose was committed to making sure that the residents and citizens of Oklahoma got their money’s worth. That when we were done we would Col. Kerry Pettingill and his family, including four of his seven have measurable objectives on grandchildren. our ability to deter and to respond; to make sure that we had the capabilities of dealing with all the tragedies and wonderful time. I am so proud Ricks said, Kerry took that potential attacks that we would of you. You know you never homeland security operation ... have upon our state. really know a person unless well, he took the ball and ran “I think you could be you’ve walked in his shadow, with it. But prior to that, Kerry justly proud for the efforts that or shared his shoes. Sometimes was given the task to run the he has made. And as a result of I feel I’ve done both. Kerry and bomb squad.
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