Last Updated on March 1, 2024, 3:47 PM | Published: March 1, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY — The chief of the Oklahoma City Police Department announced his retirement Thursday and will continue to serve in that role until a replacement is found.
Gourley became chief in 2019 just before a time of testing for the department as the Pandemic created a whole new set of problems.
Also, anger over high-profile police killings in the U.S. surfaced long-standing local tensions between the OKCPD and some residents in 2020. The result was multiple large protests in OKC that tested the patience of officers and brought to the surface years of tensions that some other OKC residents were never aware of before.
The outcome was the city’s commissioning of 21cp consultants and the establishment of a replacement police oversight committee. The process created some dialogue between the police department and community leaders that had not existed before.
Big responsibility, long career
As the 50th Chief of Police for the city, Gourley is responsible for leading 1,235 uniformed, sworn officers and 413 non-sworn employees.
“Working alongside the dedicated men and women of this Police Department and serving this great community for over 34 years has been an incredible honor,” Gourley said. “After my departure, I know the Police Department will continue to honor our core values by serving this City with integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and equity.”
Gourley has invested 34 years into his career with OKCPD moving through the ranks from a patrol officer to Chief.
“I can’t thank Chief Gourley enough for his more than three decades of leadership and service to the residents of Oklahoma City,” City Manager Craig Freeman said. “During his tenure as Chief, he guided the Police Department through a time of significant uncertainty and change. Through it all he has embodied the values of the Oklahoma City Police Department by leading with integrity and a commitment to serve all Oklahoma City residents.”
Just in time for trouble
Gourley took the rains from long-term Chief Bill Citty in July 2019.
Very soon after, in early 2020, came the Pandemic and rounds of anti-police protests in OKC that mirrored protests nationally.
The protests were prompted by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Even though both occurred in other states, the deaths surfaced some residents’ simmering anger about a wide range of police practices in OKC.
Controversial OKCPD shootings such as that of Bennie Edwards created a test for Chief Gourley and his top leadership as anger and heartbreak over that killing and others consumed some parts of Oklahoma City’s population.
Gourley led the department through a difficult time of trying to find a meaningful response to frustration and anger in Oklahoma City over police practices here and across the U.S.
In response to fatal situations like that of Bennie Edwards and many other non-fatal encounters between police and mentally ill persons, Gourley led OKCPD in developing a different approach to mental health calls with expanded training for officers and transparency through the use of body-worn cameras.
Nationwide search
Thursday, City Manager Freeman announced a nationwide search for Gourley’s replacement. The announcement marks a shift in concept from Gourley’s decades-long advance from within the ranks of the OKCPD to Chief in 2019.
“We will conduct an extensive nationwide search for a new police chief with leadership experience in modern policing and a passion for serving our community,” Freeman said. “I’m confident we will attract highly qualified candidates from inside and outside the organization. Choosing a Police Chief is one of the most important decisions I make as City Manager.”
Freeman, as City Manager, hires the police chief who reports to Assistant City Manager Jason Ferbrache.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
