New OCSO sub-unit to tackle gang violence, illegal activities

In response to a large-scale gang related shooting earlier in 2023 which occurred at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds, the Okmulgee County Sheriff ’s Office is now offering a volunteer Special Enforcement Team (SET) that is a sub-unit of the OCSO Criminal Investigations Unit. The unit will provide an active rapid response and support element to major crimes, and are primarily responsible for the OCSO’s response to gang violence, illegal narcotics, violent crimes, burglaries, and other stolen property offenses.

Characterized as a “anytime, go anywhere unit,” the deputies assigned to Special Enforcement Team have experience in working to identify gang members, courthouse protective details, tactical operations, under-cover/plainclothes operations, school presentations, and lateral agency training.

Each member assigned to the team has received advanced training in gang activities, the collection and preservation of firearms and firearms related evidence, courthouse security details, illegal and abused narcotics, operational planning and execution, surveillance and pur- suit operations, warrant service, high risk arrest warrant service, high risk dwelling and structural entry, and intelligence operations.

Currently, members are working closely with the Tulsa Multi-Agency Gang Operational Team to identify and certify local gang members. In addition to this, members are scheduled to attend a weeklong training and Oklahoma Gang Conference later this year in Tulsa. The OCSO also submits seized firearms and firearms evidence to the NIBIN facility in Tulsa and has already linked several guns from criminal activity to other gun crimes in the Tulsa Metro area as well as locally.

Incredibly, the Special Enforcement Team concept and the individual members of the team contribute the greatest impact toward the reduction of crime in the community through the targeting of known criminal offenders and the gathering of criminal intelligence for the arrest of suspects involved in a wide variety of criminal activities. Sheriff Rice is continuing to evolve his vision for the OCSO while providing quality law enforcement for all residents of Okmulgee County.