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 In 1952, the ranks of Major and Sergeant were added for senior division personnel. By the mid-1950's, the OCPD could boast well over 300 sworn officers. In 15 short years, the Department had outgrown its current physical facilities. The Bureau of Records and the Radio Communications division were particularly squeezed for space, despite the addition of a new Court Building adjacent to the Police Station. However, despite the growth in services and professionalism, officers found it difficult to police the ever expanding city. Between 1952 and 1962, the total land area of the City grew from 56 to 480 square miles, an increase in police jurisdiction of over 800%. Yet during the same period, the number of sworn officers only rose from 309 to 320!
In 1959, the voters of Oklahoma repealed the state's prohibition law, and the focus of the Department's work shifted. Free of the need to enforce the old liquor laws, manpower was re-allocated into other areas. While the actual number of criminal offenses reported rose significantly, the clearance rate for major crimes also jumped.
In 1962, Hilton Geer, a former Chief of Detectives, assumed the Department reins from Dan Hollingsworth. Under Geer's direction, a new position of Assistant Chief of Police was established. "Ace" Williams was chosen as the first man to fill the post. The Department's first full-time training staff was hired, and plans were formulated for a police training academy. In 1965, twenty officers from the Patrol Division established the Honor Guard. Today, the Guard serves during parades, police funerals, and other ceremonies as deemed appropriate.
In 1965, the OCPD's present headquarters building was completed at a cost of $2 million. During the late Sixties, the Department's ranks swelled as the passage of a City sales tax enabled police recruiters to offer a more attractive package to applicants. To accommodate the new vehicles that were purchased, the Communications Division added additional radio frequencies and a Modus Operandi Unit was created to minimize the duplication of files and records. With financial assistance from the City and the Title I Higher Education Act, many officers began to take advantage of educational opportunities at local colleges and universities. |
