New Mounds police chief sworn in
BY SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/14/12 at 2:54 AM
MOUNDS - Timothy McDaniel was sworn in Tuesday night as Mounds' new police chief.
The hiring is the beginning of an effort to re-establish the Police Department, which was taken over by the Creek County Sheriff's Office when Mounds' two police officers - former Chief Chad Long and Assistant Chief Jerry Grafton - were accused of taking $5,000 each from a purse that a woman had turned over to the department in September 2010.
Charges filed against them in July are pending.
McDaniel, 46, was a Jenks police officer for eight years and a Pawnee County sheriff's deputy before that.
Establishing a good camaraderie between the Police Department and the community is one of his goals.
"I want to meet with all the community leaders and just let them know that I'm going to come in there and bring a standard of professionalism to that department - a high standard, if you will - and we're going to be making some obvious changes with the community," he said.
Retired Tulsa Police Officer Bob Randolph had been acting chief during the selection process, which was conducted by the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.
Tulsa County Sheriff Sgt. Randy Pierce said Mounds officials asked his office to assist with screening about 30 candidates representing five states.
"We did the 21-step process, just like we hire an employee," Pierce said. "When someone tarnishes a badge, it makes everybody look bad."
Mounds has about 1,168 residents and is about 22 miles south of Tulsa in Creek County.
Original Print Headline: Area officer sworn in as new Mounds police chief
Susan Hylton 918-581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com
