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 As the Seventies began, additional federal and state funds became available for specialized programs. The Law Enforcement Intern Program was established in 1971, enabling unarmed men aged 18-21 to undertake police duties in a Community Service Officer position. Two years later, the OCPD obtained its first helicopter. "Helicopter One" proved so useful that it was purchased by the Department in 1974. The Alcohol Safety Action Project, ASAP, long a dream of police administrators, became a reality in the early Seventies, and has provided a model for the establishment of similar programs across the country. An unrelated yet significant event occurred on January 13, 1974, when Police Officer Shirley Cox became the first female Oklahoma City officer to make an arrest. Cox was one of several women to enter the police academy during the year.
Perhaps the most significant event of the 1970's was the Oklahoma City Police Strike of 1975. For four days, 550 of the 598 officers of the OCPD remained on strike. With the settlement of the labor issue, the Police Department turned its attention toward improving the efficiency of its services. In order to place police closer to the community, two briefing stations were opened in 1978 dividing the patrol division into three separate divisions.
In 1979, computerization was introduced in the Records and Communications Divisions. As a result, many positions became civilianized, freeing more officers for field assignments. New equipment, including additional helicopters, advanced polygraph machines, and a Mobile Evidence Van for on-site preservation of evidence, significantly accelerated the investigation of major crimes. On December 5, 1981, the Patrol Division revived Oklahoma City's Mounted Patrol, utilizing donated horses and equipment.
The 1980's brought a rapid growth in population, increasing crime rates and high-tech police equipment. The Department acquired a Mobile Crime Scene van, advanced serology equipment for analyzing blood, a firearms and tool marks examiner, new Jet Ranger helicopter for patrolling the outlying areas and computerized dispatching. Officers training was upgraded to include some of the latest scientific theories such as accident reconstruction and blood stain interpretation. Patrol shifts were restructured and a Field Training Program (FTO) was instituted.
In 1986 a new monument was dedicated in front of Police Headquarters. The names of each of the officers killed in the line of duty is engraved on the marble slab centered in the plaza displaying the City, State and National flag.
1987 brought two major changes. The first being the take home car program. Officers are permitted to drive the marked units off-duty, thereby increasing the visibility within the community. Secondly the Department was restructured and City law enforcement functions were combined with OCPD. Officers assigned to the Airport Police, Park Rangers and Lake Patrol officers all became members of the Traffic and Support Division.
In 1988, computerization of police reporting became a reality. The Departmental wide computer system provides access to all reports and record files maintained by the Department. Computerization of dispatch was upgraded with a million dollar remodeling of the Emergency Management unit to include 9-1-1 for Oklahoma City residents.
Two new acronyms entered the OCPD vocabulary in 1989 with the addition of FLIR and AFIS. FLIR being the Forward Looking Infrared Radar system installed on the helicopters. This system provides the ability to detect and track objects warmer than the background objects such as humans. FLIR continues to impress officers with the ability to track and locate fleeing suspects especially at night.
Technical capabilities of the Department were greatly enhanced with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. This multi-million dollar system maintains nearly a quarter million fingerprints on file and permits comparison within minutes to prints recovered from crime scenes.
1989 brought further expansion within the Department as the Springlake Briefing Station was opened. This joint Police and Fire Station was a first for the City and made possible through a bond issue. Later this same year, citizens voted a 3/4 cent sales tax increase dedicated solely to enhancing police and fire protection. This tax provided for 200 additional patrol officers and replacement of specialized and technical equipment. The tax was a proposed by the citizens and provided for every officer being issued a hand held radio and bulletproof vest. |
