Tulsa World: New OHP headquarters feted

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New OHP headquarters feted
The Vinita complex is a prototype that will house two troops.

By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Published: 7/8/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 7/8/2009 4:10 AM

VINITA — For decades, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in these parts has worked in facilities that were dated and dilapidated.

"I wouldn't say that it was uninhabitable," said Kevin Ward, commissioner for the state Department of Public Safety. "But it was getting close."

On Tuesday, OHP troopers heaped praise on a complex that's big enough to get lost in.

At about 11,000 square feet, the roughly $2 million facility will be the new home for Troops L and XA, which previously had been based in separate facilities.

"This is a prototype," said OHP Lt. George Brown, who attended Tuesday's dedication and open house for the complex. "This is the first of the kind throughout in the state. It's the first time that a turnpike troop and a field troop have been put together."

Troop L encompasses Washington, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Delaware and Mayes counties. Troop XA oversees the Will Rogers Turnpike and also commands Troop XD, which oversees the Cherokee Turnpike, said Capt. Jack McCoy, Troop L's commander.

A joint venture between the Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, the new facility features spacious office and storage areas, covered parking and a large conference room that includes two permanent video monitors and a long dry-erase board.

McCoy said the Department of Public Safety will work to use the conference room for training sessions or as a command center.

Eventually, it could become a venue for the Council on Law Enforcement

Education and Training, he said.

"Any time that we've had any DPS functions up here, we had to either borrow or rent a facility," McCoy said.

Troop L is composed of about 25 law enforcement officers, as well as other personnel, McCoy said.

Troop XA's field personnel includes 13 troopers on the Will Rogers Turnpike and six on the Cherokee Turnpike, he said.

Troop L had been housed about 100 yards away in a structure built in 1954, McCoy said. Troopers in XA had worked nearby in cinderblock and prefabricated buildings on former turnpike maintenance grounds.

Lt. Vern Wilson of Troop XA said: "This is so much nicer. It has so much room. You can actually build a workable file in here.

"Everything being in one building now; we can share information. It has really streamlined the process."

Rhett Morgan 581-8395
rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (7/8/2009 9:10:31 AM) Notice the long dry eraser board? did they have a short wet one before?
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (7/8/2009 8:27:03 AM) ... Hmmm....wonder if Trooper Daniel Martin will be relocated there? ... .. .
	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (7/8/2009 12:55:07 PM) Diana D, "Grants and donations" are the PC way of saying revenue from the victims of speedtraps. And the long dry erase board is for hashmarks counting the number of paramedics they have choked.
	Report Comment R U 4 Real?, BFE (7/8/2009 3:00:47 PM) Fire trooper Martin and apply his income to the cost of the facility.
	Report Comment justiceawaits, Claremore (7/8/2009 8:57:01 AM) Maybe they will have a nice airconditioned room where they can teach the troopers not to pull over and choke ambulance drivers who are on the way to the hospital with a patient.
	Report Comment wk, (7/8/2009 3:54:26 PM) Good thing we've got a $2mm facility to write speeding tickets out of. Go get 'em boys, stop those nasty speeders.
	Report Comment Diana D, madill (7/8/2009 10:33:42 AM) Hope they make the parking lot big enough for the SUV's the Dodge Chargers, Camero's and Firebirds...since when did the criminals get so hard to haul to jail that the crown victoria just didn't cut it anymore...? Grants and private donations my rear end.

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