Tulsa Police Officer Takes Command Of National Guard Unit

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa police officer is in command of a National Guard unit preparing for a possible deployment to Afghanistan.

Colonel Joel Ward took charge of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a special ceremony at Camp Gruber. 

The unit's more than 3,500 members could head to Afghanistan sometime next year. 

If that happens, it would be the largest deployment of Oklahoma National Guard soldiers since the Korean War. 

Colonel Ward has been with the Tulsa Police Department for 18 years and currently supervises the Gang Unit. His brother, Tim, has been a Tulsa officer for 20 years.