Oklahoma City FBI official promoted to high-level position

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's top FBI agent has been promoted to a high-level position with the bureau's counterterrorism division in Washington and will be leaving the state in about a month.

Saturday, April 17th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma's top FBI agent has been promoted to a high-level position with the bureau's counterterrorism division in Washington and will be leaving the state in about a month.

Special Agent John E. Lewis has managed all FBI efforts in Oklahoma since Sept. 9, 2002.

FBI Director Robert Mueller announced Friday Lewis' appointment as a deputy assistant director of the counterterrorism division at bureau headquarters.

In his new post, Lewis will be one of three assistant directors managing efforts to foil terrorism. Lewis' replacement will be named in about 90 days.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the FBI is doing more than it ever has to protect this country from terrorism and continues to increase these efforts, Lewis said.

``This past year has been a very, very good year despite all the stuff you hear on television,'' he said. ``Congress has seen fit to give us a very healthy budget. We've been hiring lots of agents this year.''

He said that in his new post he will continue to come to work with the idea that there is a great likelihood this country will eventually be victimized by another major terrorist attack.

``I'm paid to keep this state and nation safe,'' he said. ``I believe I have to come to work with that kind of notion in mind.''