Oklahoma City – Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced today that Tulsa Police Detective Paula Maker has been selected as the 2026 Oklahoma Officer of the Year. The award was presented at a ceremony this afternoon in Oklahoma City, where the state’s regional officers of the year and more than 40 nominees were also recognized.
Regional award winners
In addition to Detective Maker, the ceremony highlighted outstanding public‑service officers from each region of the state:
- Trooper Austin Albrecht, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Northwest Region
- Sgt. John Cruise, Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Southwest Region
- Lt. Jake Heath, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Southeast Region
Regional winners were chosen by judging panels composed of city, county, tribal and state criminal‑justice professionals.
Special recognitions
Investigator Jake Carey of the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office received the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) Officer of the Year award for his dedication to domestic‑violence victim safety and his use of the trauma‑informed LAP screening tool.
The ceremony also marked the first time K‑9 officers were honored. K‑9 Dash and handler Sgt. Michael Moore of the Oklahoma City Police Department were named K‑9 Officer of the Year. K‑9 Vader and handler Julia Storey of the Hennessey Police Department earned an honorable mention.
Attorney General’s remarks
Drummond praised Detective Maker, saying, “Detective Maker is an outstanding servant leader and most deserving of this honor. She has investigated some of the most difficult crimes imaginable but never wavered in professionalism or compassion.”
The Officer of the Year program was created by Drummond to celebrate the best and brightest across Oklahoma’s federal, state, tribal and local law‑enforcement agencies, highlighting the dedication of officers who protect communities throughout the Sooner State.
Original reporting: KTUL 8 (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
