Citizen Portal
Sign In

Oklahoma Senate presents citation of valor to officers who responded to May Atoka County pursuit

Oklahoma Senate · February 5, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The Oklahoma Senate presented a citation of valor recognizing multiple officers from Atoka County and neighboring agencies for their response to a May 2025 high‑speed pursuit and armed confrontation; the measure was approved by unanimous consent.

The Oklahoma Senate on Feb. 6 presented a citation of valor honoring law enforcement officers who responded to a high‑speed pursuit and armed confrontation in Atoka County in May 2025. The clerk read a formal citation naming officers from the Atoka Police Department, Atoka County Sheriff's Office, Stringtown Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Tulsa Police Department.

Senator David Bullard introduced and supported the recognition and asked the chamber to acknowledge the officers on the floor. "These men and women in the blue or brown or black or whatever color they happen to be wearing, these are the heroes," Bullard said as he asked members and the officers present to stand and be recognized.

The clerk's reading listed named personnel including Chief Gene Dodson, Lieutenant Jimmy Taylor and Master Patrolman Cheyenne Gilbert of the Atoka Police Department; Patrolman Zachary Rice (noted as now assigned to DPS Port of Entry, Colbert Station); Sheriff Cody Simpson and deputies Doug Isabel and J.D. Mixon of the Atoka County Sheriff's Office; dispatcher Emily Denny (Atoka County Sheriff's Office); Chief Darren Duckworth, Deputy Chief Gary Coley and Detective Aaron Thomas of the Stringtown Police Department; Trooper Joe Jefferson of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol; and Officer Derek Sullins of the Tulsa Police Department. The citation states the officers "demonstrated courage, professionalism, and unwavering dedication" while responding to the incident and credited their actions with protecting and rescuing civilians and stabilizing a volatile scene.

The recognition was ordered "pursuant to the motion of Senator David Bullard" and proceeded by unanimous consent after the presiding officer asked if there were objections. No formal roll‑call vote was recorded for the citation; the Senate treated the presentation as approved by unanimous consent.

The session continued with introductions and announcements before the presiding officer accepted a motion to adjourn the Senate until Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.