Yukon Police Chief John Brown spoke with KOCO to share the latest developments in public safety and community outreach as the city heads into the holiday season. The chief highlighted three key items: a school‑related gun incident, the resolution of the Freedom Fest shooting case, and the annual Christmas‑with‑a‑Cop program.
School gun arrest
Since the start of the 2026‑27 school year, Oklahoma has experienced several threats to schools. In Yukon, a 12‑year‑old student was arrested after a parent discovered an unloaded firearm in the child’s backpack. Brown explained that officers opened an investigation, determined a crime had been committed, and placed the student under arrest. “We were able to open up the investigation and go through and look at what was going on with that student. So, yes, they did commit a crime, and so we did place that student under arrest,” the chief said.
Freedom Fest shooting investigation closed
Another high‑profile case involved a stray bullet that struck a woman at the annual Freedom Fest. The Yukon Police Department, working with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), collected ballistics evidence, including shell casings and the bullet recovered from the victim. The forensic analysis linked the evidence to two suspects, leading to their arrests. “We actually received our ballistics report from OSBI,” Brown said. “We were able to have OSBI’s help, and they were able to link the two together. So, we made the correct arrests.” With the arrests completed, the department now considers the case closed.
Christmas‑with‑a‑Cop program
Looking ahead to the holidays, the department is preparing its Christmas‑with‑a‑Cop program, which provides under‑privileged children from the Yukon school district with a festive shopping experience. The program, now in its seventh year, serves about 20‑25 children each December and has helped roughly 450 children since its inception. “We rely 100% on donations,” Chief Brown noted, encouraging local businesses and community members to contribute. The event is scheduled for December 12, when participating children will enjoy a breakfast and then shop for gifts. Donations can be dropped off at local businesses in Yukon or made online.
Community response
Residents have expressed appreciation for the department’s transparency and its focus on both safety and charitable outreach. While the school gun incident underscores the need for continued vigilance, the swift resolution of the Freedom Fest shooting and the ongoing holiday program demonstrate the department’s commitment to protecting and supporting Yukon families.
For more information on how to donate to Christmas‑with‑a‑Cop or to volunteer, community members are encouraged to contact the Yukon Police Department directly.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
