Police Officers Running For Sheriff

By Lori Fullbright, News On 6

ROGERS COUNTY, OK -- On Election Day, November 4th, voters in Rogers County will pick a new sheriff. The current one, Jerry Prather, is retiring. What's unusual about this race is citizens will be choosing between two Tulsa police officers.

The signs of a sheriff's race are clear. Two police officers, both on the Tulsa Police Department for 27 years, are now competing against each other for the top law enforcement job of Rogers County.

"I've worked in every assignment with the police department with the exception of riding a motorcycle and flying helicopters. I learned the most in the last six years in the chief's office where I was the Public Information Officer for the Tulsa Police Department and coordinated the Crimestoppers program," said Officer Scott Walton.

"My first 10 years were in patrol. My next 12 years were in detective division. I finished my fifth year in patrol, for a total of 15 and have more than 16 years on the SWAT team as a negotiator," said Officer Cole Butler.

Officer Walton was born and raised in Rogers County and wants to bring what he's learned in police work to his home county. He says statistics show it's the safest county of its size in the state.

Officer Butler was born in the Chicago area, but moved to Rogers County nearly 25 years ago. He says change is needed in the sheriff's office and he can be objective about it.

Both agree the county is fast growing and those needs must be addressed.

"We have two very different ideas about what should happen in the sheriff's office. My number one goal is to bring professional change to the sheriff's office," said Butler.

"We must address the growth and that will bring some change eventually, but, to say I'm going to come in an turn things upside down and make a lot of changes, I want to maintain the low crime stats and maintain this quality of life," said Walton.

Both men say, if they lose the election, they will continue their careers as Tulsa police officers.