April 3, 2023
By Landry Brewer
The Elk City Police Department is bursting at the seams, and voters can help.
Tuesday’s municipal ballot will give Elk Citians the chance to repurpose and extend an existing half-cent sales tax and expand the Elk City Police Station, which was built 41 years ago when the police force was much smaller.
“When the police department moved into the current building in 1982, the force was comprised of 11 officers,” said Elk City Assistant Chief of Police John Cook. “Now there are 30 officers.”
The police station has never been enlarged.
According to Cook, 24 Elk City Police officers occupy a single patrol room and work around each other, writing and filing reports and executing other duties, all in cramped quarters.
Additionally, more space is needed to accommodate today’s technology.
“We don’t have the capacity, the infrastructure for the Wi-Fi, ethernet cables and other new things that weren’t dreamed of 40 years ago,” Cook said.
The police station also needs more room to divert heat generated by all the department’s technology. “A lot of heat builds up in this electronic equipment, and we need the space and heat-dissipating capacity to keep the equipment running,” Cook said.
The Elk City Police Department’s dispatch area also needs expansion.
The department runs at least two and sometimes three dispatchers at a time. They dispatch the police department, the fire department, and EMS, plus eight rural fire departments from Carter to Foss, and the ECPD dispatchers also take all 911 calls.
More space is needed between personnel so that simultaneous calls received don’t create interference and confusion as the dispatchers talk and direct personnel during emergencies.
“If someone calls on the police line and a 911 call comes in, we want to make sure the dispatchers are far enough away from each other and don’t get cluttered up,” Cook said.
If approved by voters, the repurposed and extended sales tax will provide these needed public safety improvements without raising taxes
Copyright 2023 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
“All Clear” Given After Apparent Fake Bomb Threat at Elk City Middle School
April 17, 2024 Tense moments Wednesday afternoon after a bomb threat to the Elk City Middle School was made.
Elk City Man Injured in Dewey Co. Crash
April 17, 2024 An Elk City man was hospitalized Tuesday night after being involved in a one vehicle accident in Dewey County.
K9 Alerts Authorities to Fentanyl and Cocaine During Texas Traffic Stop
April 17, 2024 A man was arrested earlier this month in Shamrock, Texas after being discovered with fentanyl and cocaine.
SWOSU’s Dr. Tugba Sevin Named 2024 DaVinci Fellow for Language Initiative
April 17, 2024 SWOSU Press Release Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is proud to announce that Dr. Tugba Sevin, Associate Professor in the SWOSU College of Arts and Sciences has recently been named the 2024 DaVinci Fellow
SWOSU Foundation, Inc. Awarded Heritage Preservation Grant
April 17, 2024 SWOSU Press Release Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is proud to announce that the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has awarded the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
Ellis Co. Man Dies in Monday Night Crash
April 16, 2024 A Gage man passed away Monday night after being involved in a two vehicle accident near Laverne in Harper County.
Man Accused of Vandalizing Home – Hitting Woman
April 16, 2024 A Sayre man was arrested earlier this month after he allegedly vandalized a home and punched a woman.
Adopt a Dispatcher
April 16, 2024 Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning reminds the public that there’s an easy way to show your appreciation to Beckham County dispatchers with this week being National Telecommunications and Communicators Week.
Storied Structure Helps Occupants Create Better Future
April 15, 2024 By Landry Brewer An old Elk City building has a new purpose.
Local Authorities Staying Sharp During Severe Weather Season
April 15, 2024 With spring storm season in full effect in western Oklahoma, one local sheriff’s office is staying sharp when they’re needed to accurately spot, track, and report when severe weather enters the area.
SWOSU Launches Pharm.D./MSHIM Dual-Degree Program
April 15, 2024 SWOSU Press Release Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is proud to introduce the Pharm.D./Master of Science in Health Information Management (MSHIM) dual-degree program, which combines the Doctor of Pharmacy and master’s degree in health
February Sales Tax: I-40 Trio Up
April 15, 2024 The latest sales tax numbers have been released and western Oklahoma’s largest communities saw gains in collections when compared to the same time a year ago.
ECPS Partnering with Leadership Group
April 12, 2024 Elk City Public Schools has been selected to take part in a leadership program that, according to Superintendent Mike Sparks, will create more opportunities for the school district to build on success and continue
Excavation at New Fire Station Site Unearths Church Building Remnants
April 12, 2024 By Landry Brewer Dirt is being moved at the historic location for Elk City’s new fire station, and workers recently uncovered some of that site’s history.
Omar J. & Katie Rogers Scholarship Fund Established at SWOSU
April 12, 2024 SWOSU Press Release Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon has announced the establishment of the Omar J. & Katie Rogers Scholarship Fund.
Clinton Man Accused of Trying to Run Down Golfers
April 11, 2024 A bizarre story out of Custer County where a man was arrested after allegedly attempting to run over people while driving a vehicle near Riverside Golf Course in Clinton.
“Boots and Badges” Blood Drive Friday in Elk City
April 11, 2024 A special blood drive honoring a fallen firefighter is taking place tomorrow at the Elk City Fire Department.
40th Annual SW Farm & Home Expo This Weekend in Elk City
April 11, 2024 The 40th Annual Southwest Farm & Home Expo returns this weekend inside the Elk City Convention Center.
No Headlights Cause of Jackson Co. Wreck
April 10, 2024 A Weatherford teen was injured and hospitalized after being involved in a two vehicle accident last week in Jackson County.
Elk City High Fulfills “Oklahoma’s Promise”
April 10, 2024 According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, seven high schools have been named “Oklahoma’s Promise 2023 State Champions,” leading the state in the number of graduates who met the requirements to receive
Trucker Charged After Hit and Run Incident in Beckham Co.
April 10, 2024 An arrest warrant has been issued for a California man after he allegedly sideswiped a parked pickup and camper trailer with his semi truck and trailer on the side of I-40 in Beckham County
Fire Crews Contain Elk City Apartment Fire
April 9, 2024 An apartment fire Monday afternoon in Elk City was contained to one unit.
ATV Accident Hospitalizes Elk City Man
April 9, 2024 An ATV accident on Saturday in Tillman County has hospitalized an Elk City man.
Fatal Accident Near Blair
April 9, 2024 A Granite woman has died Monday after being involved in a two vehicle accident north of Blair in Jackson County.
SWOSU Announces 2024 Distinguished Alumni
April 8, 2024 SWOSU Press Release Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with locations in Weatherford, Sayre and Yukon has announced its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honorees.