OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.– Like many counties across the state, Oklahoma County has several seats up for reelection this year. Most positions have gone uncontested, such as long-time County Court Clerk Rick Warren. However, the race for county sheriff is gearing up for a 2020 repeat between incumbent Tommie Johnson III (R) and Wayland Cubit (D). 

2020 was a unique year in US history. The onset of a global pandemic brought business as usual to a standstill. A few months after a portion of the workforce was signaled to work from home, the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor prompted mass protests. Their deaths reignited conversations about systemic racism and police accountability. 

Organizers and activists began to call out behavior by their local police departments that perpetuated disparate rates of violence against people of color. Oklahoma was no exception. 

Data from MappingPoliceViolence.org shows that Black people in Oklahoma are 3.2x more likely to be killed by police than white people. Between 2013 and 2020, Oklahoma City police officers were responsible for 48 fatal shootings. This ranked the OKC Police Department as second in the country for most police killings per capita. 

Although the responsibility mostly falls on the OKC police, the Chief of Police isn’t an elected position. However, the people are responsible for choosing who is in charge of the sheriff’s department. Republican voters were seemingly no longer satisfied with former Sheriff P.D. Taylor, who held the office from 2017-2021. During an August runoff election, they swapped Taylor for Johnson, who won the vote with an overwhelming majority. 

Tommie Johnson III

Before Johnson set his sights on the office of Oklahoma County Sheriff, he started his enforcement career in neighboring Cleveland County. Despite earning his Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science, Johnson branched out and joined the University of Oklahoma Campus Police Department. After serving with OUPD for two and a half years, he transitioned to the City of Norman Police Department. 

In 2020, Johnson put his name in the running for Oklahoma County Sheriff. 

Republican incumbent P.D. Taylor’s reputation began to falter in 2019. The Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the Jail Trust, voted to bring in someone new to run the county jail. Typically, the county jail is controlled by the sheriff’s department. The trust hired Greg Williams to monitor jail operations and held the position until he resigned in 2022. 

Time as Sheriff

Johnson first took on Taylor in the 2020 June primary. Both candidates failed to obtain over 50% of the vote and headed to an August runoff election. Despite Taylor initially faring better with voters in June, the tables turned and Johnson secured the Republican nomination. 

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Since taking office, Johnson has had to navigate challenging circumstances. After only two months on the job, a hostage incident occurred at the county jail. Using a makeshift knife, detainee Curtis Montrell Williams subdued a correctional officer and let other detainees out of their cells. They then took the officer’s phone and went on Facebook Live. The incident ended when police and deputies shot and killed Williams, who was still holding the officer at knifepoint. 

In response to the incident, Johnson said, “Unfortunately, a life was lost to save a life.”

This past Monday, deputies from the sheriff’s department were performing an eviction when a man set himself on fire in front of officers. Johnson said one of the deputies had been working with the elderly couple to secure new living arrangements. The officers have since been placed on paid administrative leave.

Wayland Cubit

Cubit is a former Lieutenant of the Oklahoma City Police Department with nearly 27 years of experience in law enforcement. Currently, Cubit works with Oklahoma City Public Schools as Director of Security. One key issue that was a part of Cubit’s 2020 campaign was reestablishing community trust in law officers. 

In the June 2020 primary, Cubit ran against fellow Democratic candidate Virgil Green. Green is a former Police Chief of Spencer, Oklahoma, who ran for the county sheriff position in 2017 and 2020. Cubit secured the Democratic nomination with 62% of the vote. 

On Thursday, Cubit released a press statement announcing his 2024 campaign. “I know what our community needs. They need a Sheriff who has real professional experience, who will be strong, trustworthy, and knowledgeable, but most importantly – one who will keep all of our citizens safe and protect our kids.” He continues, “Oklahomans deserve a Sheriff who will lead us into the future. One who will protect all Oklahomans, who understand our criminal justice system- both its shortcomings and strengths, and will keep us safe from harm. I know I am the leader to do this job.”

Experience 

Aside from his previous work within the OKC police department, Cubit also conducts training classes for current officers. One tackles the subject of unconscious bias. Implicit or unconscious bias is when an individual unknowingly attributes stereotypes to a group of people. Cubit trains officers on recognizing and addressing unconscious judgment when interacting with the public. 

Another form of training Cubit provides for departments throughout the Oklahoma City metro is de-escalation. In 2020, as the general public was asking for more transparency from law enforcement, de-escalation was often a topic of discussion. Police interactions may involve individuals who are acting irrationally due to a mental health crisis. A 2020 study found that Black men experiencing mental health episodes are more likely than white men to be killed by police. 

To prevent severe outcomes, officers may deploy de-escalation tactics. These techniques use verbal and non-verbal skills to control and prevent a situation from reaching a level that could cause injury. Throughout 2020, debates about whether mental health providers would be better equipped to handle these cases were common. While participating in a debate against Johnson, Cubit stated, “I believe we can always use more de-escalation training.” He says that the public often only hears about police de-escalation when it fails. “We have to do a better job at reporting every time that we use [it].” 

Election Timeline

Johnson and Cubit are the only candidates who have filed for the 2024 Oklahoma County Sheriff race. Neither faces a primary election, meaning both their names will appear on the November ballot.