(Oklahoma City, Ok.) – Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Colonel Kerry
Pettingill has announced his plans to retire February 1st, 2014 after
having served as the 25th Chief of the Patrol since February 2011.
“When I started out as a trooper in 1982, I had no thoughts or aspirations
of being anything other than a trooper, but I’ve had tremendous
opportunities in my tenure with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.” Col.
Pettingill said. “I was just a kid from Mangum, Oklahoma that wanted to be
in law enforcement.”
Chief Pettingill has done a lot more than just “be” in law enforcement
though. He has risen through the ranks in his nearly thirty-two-year career
to the highest ranking uniformed member and administrative head of the
Patrol. Some of his most notable assignments included: Interim Deputy
Director and then Director of Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
appointed by Governor Brad Henry where Pettingill directed the daily
operation of the Homeland Security Office for over eight years and was
tasked with securing the State of Oklahoma from the results of acts of
terrorism. Pettingill also served as the Commander of both the OHP Bomb
Squad and Tactical Teams and was assigned as the Department’s liaison to
the FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Some of Chief Pettingill’s most notable accomplishments with the Patrol
include: Expanding the OHP Bomb Squad from a part-time assignment to a
full-time one, with cutting edge technology resulting in the implementation
of new standards for all seven Oklahoma bomb squads; a $4 million project
(approximately.) Pettingill expanded the state public safety radio system
from a 12 tower 10,000 radio system to 42 towers and over 25,000 radios
with the expansion still in progress, an estimated $70 million project. He
championed the formation of the Oklahoma Information Fusion Center; an $8
million project. He established the Oklahoma Regional Response System a
system of emergency responders from all disciplines to provide chemical,
biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response, urban search and
rescue, medical mass casualty response, technical rescue and foreign animal
disease response; involved over 110 pieces of equipment being placed across
the state and advanced training for responders; $40 million project.
DPS Commissioner and Public Safety Cabinet Member, Michael C. Thompson
said, “I am extremely grateful for Chief Pettingill’s 32 years of dedicated
service to Oklahoma and our nation. Chief Pettingill has left an indelible
mark on all of us, and is largely responsible for the success of the OHP
Bomb Squad and establishing Oklahoma’s Office of Homeland Security. As the
25th Chief of the Patrol, Pettingill has led with integrity, honor and a
spirit of selfless service. On a personal note, I will always appreciate
the friendship of Kerry Pettingill. I sincerely wish him the utmost success
in his future endeavors,” said Thompson.
When asked what Pettingill will do after retirement he said he was looking
forward to spending time with his family. “I’ve already been what I wanted
to be when I grew up,” Pettingill said jokingly. “I’m excited about
whatever unknown possibilities are in store for me and I look forward to
whatever challenges lie ahead.”
