Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma
Government of Oklahoma
The government of the US State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial...

. The OSBI assists the city police departments of the state and is the primary investigative agency of the state government. OSBI works independent of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...

 to investigate criminal law violations within the state at the request of statutory authorized requestors.

The OSBI is governed by a seven-member commission, with each member of the commission appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

. The commission then appoints a director, who serves at the pleasure of the commission, to serve at the chief executive officer of the OSBI. The current Director is Stan Florence, who was appointed by the Commission on November 1, 2010, following the resignation of A. DeWade Langley
A. DeWade Langley
A. DeWade Langley is an American police officer from Oklahoma. Langley is the current Director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, being appointed to that position in 1995.-Early life and career:...

 as Director.

OSBI was created in 1925 during the term of Governor Martin E. Trapp
Martin E. Trapp
Martin Edwin Trapp was an American politician who served as the first Oklahoma State Auditor under Governor Charles N. Haskell. Later, Trapp served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma from 1915 to 1923. When Governor John C...

.

Origins

In the early 1920s gangs of outlaws roamed the state robbing and burglarizing banks and terrorizing the citizens of many Oklahoma towns. These gangsters often escaped lawmen by fleeing across county lines. The United States Marshals Service
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...

 was the only law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction, but its officers were outnumbered by the bandits.

In 1925, Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Martin E. Trapp
Martin E. Trapp
Martin Edwin Trapp was an American politician who served as the first Oklahoma State Auditor under Governor Charles N. Haskell. Later, Trapp served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma from 1915 to 1923. When Governor John C...

, in his State of the State address
State of the State Address
The State of the State Address is a speech customarily given once each year by the governors of most states of the United States. The speech is customarily delivered before both houses of the state legislature sitting in joint session, with the exception of the Nebraska Legislature, which is a...

 recommended the creation of an agency of special investigators or state police to combat the outlaws. The Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...

 appropriated $78,000 to establish the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. A year after its creation, the Bureau's three agents or operatives were credited with reducing the number of bank robberies in the state by roughly 75 percent. Agents accomplished this by developing leads and using informants which were considered by many to be innovative investigative techniques at the time.

In 1939, the Bureau was taken out from under the direction of the Adjutant General's Office
Adjutant General of Oklahoma
The Adjutant General of Oklahoma is the highest ranking military official in the state of Oklahoma, subordinate only to the Governor of Oklahoma...

 and became a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...

. It was during these years that the agency became known as the State Crime Bureau. This arrangement lasted until 1957, when the Bureau was placed under the direct control of the Governor's Office and renamed the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Also in 1957, the OSBI began to emerge as a professional law enforcement agency. Employees were placed under the merit system
Merit system
The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. It is the opposite of the spoils system.- History :...

 and for the first time, working for the agency was seen as a career opportunity rather than temporary employment.

Independence

In the wake of a controversial investigation of Governor David Hall
David Hall (Oklahoma governor)
David Hall , U.S. Democratic Party politician, He served as the 20th Governor of Oklahoma from January 11, 1971 to January 13, 1975, after serving as Tulsa County District Attorney, and was previously a law professor at the University of Tulsa.- Early life :David Hall was born in Oklahoma City, and...

 by the Bureau, the agency was removed from the direct control of the Governor's Office. In 1976, a seven member independent commission was created to oversee the activities of the OSBI. The makeup of the Commission includes: one police chief, one sheriff, one district attorney and four lay members. These members are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Oklahoma Senate to serve seven year staggered terms. In general, the OSBI Commission appoints the Director, hears complaints, establishes guidelines and serves as a buffer between the Bureau and potential political pressures concerning any particular investigations.

21st Century

On September 11, 2002, the OSBI was recognized as the first Oklahoma state law enforcement agency to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is a credentialing authority , based in the United States, whose primary mission is to accredited public safety agencies, namely law enforcement agencies, training academies, communications centers, and campus public safety...

.

On July 1, 2009, OSBI assumed the research functions of the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center
Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center
The Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center was an agency of the State of Oklahoma. Dissolved on July 1, 2009, the Center was a division of the Oklahoma Legislative Service Bureau with its director appointed by the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission...

 and the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission
Oklahoma Sentencing Commission
The Oklahoma Sentencing Commission was an independent agency of the government of Oklahoma. Now defunct, the Commission was established to maintain an effective, fair, and efficient sentencing system for the state of Oklahoma...

, which were dissolved at that time. OSBI is now officially recognized by the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics
The United States Bureau of Justice Statistics is a federal government agency belonging to the U.S. Department of Justice. Established on December 27, 1979, the bureau collects, analyzes and publishes data relating to crime in the United States. The agency publishes data regarding statistics...

 as the State Analysis Center.

Leadership

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation under the supervision of the Secretary of Safety and Security
Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security
The Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on public safety and...

. The OSBI Director, who is appointed by the OSBI Commission, has direct control over the OSBI. Under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

, Michael C. Thompson is serving as the Secretary and Stan Florence is serving as OSBI Director.

OSBI Commission

OSBI is governed by a seven member OSBI Commission, with all members being appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....

, to serve seven year terms. Governor may remove any member at anytime only for cause. No more than two members of the Commission has reside in the same congressional district. Four members must be ordinary citizens, one must be a sitting district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...

, one must be a sitting county sheriff, and one must be a sitting chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...

.

As of 2010, the current members of the OSBI Commission are:
  • Ted Fariss - Chairman
  • Sheriff Stanley Glanz - Vice Chair
  • Anne Holzberlein
  • Chief of Police Mickey Perry
  • District Attorney Rob Hudson
  • Mike Wilkerson
  • Russell Noble

Rank Structure

Title Description Comparative OHP
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is a major state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. It is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a...

 rank
Director Appointed by OSBI Commission to be the professional head of the OSBI. OHP Chief
Deputy Director Appointed by OSBI Director to serve as second-in-command of the OSBI. OHP Assistant Chief
Division Director Responsible for directing a Division of the OSBI. OHP Lt Colonel
Inspector Responsible for directing two or more Regional Offices or Specialized Units second level of supervision OHP Captain
Agent in Charge Responsible for directing investigations of a Regional Office or Specialized Unit first level of supervisor OHP Lieutenant
Special Agent III Responsible for leading broad, complex and highly specialized investigations or as a resident agent and does not supervise, badges have "Special Agent" inscribed OHP Trooper
Agent II Responsible for leading investigations and assisting lower level Agents in the performance of their duties badges have "Agent" inscribed OHP Trooper
Agent I Responsible for field investigative operations or specialized or technical law enforcement function badges have "Agent" inscribed OHP Cadet/Trooper

Investigations

There are only seven agencies or entities that can request the OSBI to conduct an investigation. They include: Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, District Attorneys, the Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...

, the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

, the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints
Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints
The Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints is an agency of the state of Oklahoma that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend a judge be reprimanded by the Oklahoma Supreme Court or recommend the judge's removal from office by the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary. The...

 and any legislative committee with subpoena power. The OSBI has original jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction
The original jurisdiction of a court is the power to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, when a court has the power to review a lower court's decision.-France:...

 in following areas: auto theft, oil field theft, threats against public officials, computer crimes and violent crimes on Oklahoma turnpikes.

Administrative Services Division

Central business office of OSBI. Has responsibility for supporting the Director by providing budgeting, procurement, human resources and other managerial services that support the entire Bureau.

The Division is organized as follows:
  • Accounting and Budget Section
  • Procurement and Facilities Section
  • Human Resources Section
  • Legal Affairs Section
  • Public Information Office

Investigative Services Division

The primary duty of the OSBI Investigative Services Division is to assist local law enforcement agencies in solving crimes. OSBI agents offer a number of services including collecting and preserving evidence at crime scenes, participating in undercover investigations to obtain information and evidence, interviewing witnesses and apprehending criminals. Agents investigate many types of crime, including but not limited to: political corruption, oil field theft, auto theft, homicide, official misconduct, rape, and other white collar crimes. The Bureau has agents who are pilots, polygraph experts, forensic computer experts, and others with special skills which provide many avenues to solve and prevent crime. Specially trained Crime Scene Agents are located statewide, ready at all times to collect and preserve evidence from crime scenes.

The OSBI Investigative Services Division is home to the Criminal Intelligence Unit which provides investigative support to the division, as well as home to the Oklahoma State Clearinghouse for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit organization established in 1984 by the United States Congress.-Establishment and overview:...

. Under the direction of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security is an agency of State of Oklahoma that is responsible for reducing the State's vulnerability to acts of terrorism and for minimizing and recovering the damage caused by terrorist attacks...

, the Criminal Intelligence Unit manages the State's Fusion Center
Fusion center
A fusion center is a terrorism prevention and response center, many of which were created under a joint project between the Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs between 2003 and 2007....

.

The Division is divided into eight regional investigative offices with geographic based jurisdiction and five headquarters investigative units with functional based authority and State-wide jurisdiction.
  • Regional Investigative Units
    • Northwest Region Office - Woodward
    • West Region Office - Weatherford
    • Southwest Region Office - Lawton
    • North Central Region Office - Stillwater
    • South Central Region Office - Purcell
    • Northeast Region Office - Tulsa
    • East Region Office - McAlester
    • Southeast Region Office - Antlers
  • Headquarters Units
    • Internet Crimes Against Children Unit
    • Computer Crimes Unit
    • Major Theft Unit
    • Criminal Intelligence Unit
    • Cold Case Unit

Information Services Division

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation partners with local, state and federal law enforcement in the State of Oklahoma on many levels. The OSBI works with law enforcement agencies across the state to share, collect, and offer computer and Internet based programs that will permit the efficient use of crime fighting programs.

Within the Division is the Crime Data Collection and Analysis Unit. Before becoming consolidated into OSBI, the Unit existed as the independent Office of Criminal Justice Statistics. The Unit provides research and analysis relating to the state's criminal justice system and integrated, customizable records management software for law enforcement in the form of the Offender Data Information System (ODIS). The Unit serves as the state's Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), the official point of contact with the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...

's Bureau of Justice Statistics. As the state's SAC, Unit is a member of the Justice Research and Statistics Association
Justice Research and Statistics Association
The Justice Research and Statistics Association is a national nonprofit organization of state Statistical Analysis Centers , researchers, and practitioners throughout government, academia, and justice organizations. JRSA members form a network of justice professionals dedicated to policy-relevant...

.

The Division is organized as follows:
  • Identification Unit - manages OSBI database of fingerprints
  • Criminal History Reporting Unit - manages requests for criminal history from public
  • Self Defense Act Unit - licensing and regulation of concealed hand-gun permits
  • Field Services Unit - provides identification training services to local law enforcement agencies
  • Crime Data Collection and Analysis Unit - responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of criminal justice information

Criminalistics Services Division

Since its creation in 1953, the OSBI Criminalistic Services Division has been responsible for providing operating the Oklahoma Forensic Science Center, which provides forensic science laboratory services for Oklahoma's law enforcement agencies. The Criminalistic Services Division provides forensic analysis in the following areas:
  • Serology
  • Trace evidence
  • Marijuana/drugs
  • Toxicology
  • Latent prints
  • DNA
  • Firearms and toolmarks
  • Questioned documents


The Division is divided into a central Forensic Science Center in Edmond and four regional laboratories:
  • Eastern Regional Laboratory - McAlester
  • Northeastern Regional Laboratory - Tahlequah
  • Northwestern Regional Laboratory - Enid
  • Southwestern Regional Laboratory - Lawton

Information Technology Services Division

The Information Technology Services Division is responsible for the development and maintenance of all information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...

 used by OSBI.

Staffing

The State Bureau of Investigation, with an annual budget of over $35 million, is one of the larger employers of the State. For fiscal year 2009, the Bureau was authorized 334 full time employees.
Division Number of Employees
Administration Division 38
Investigative Services Division 123
Criminalistic Services Division 87
Information Services Division 64
Information Technology Office 22
Total 334

Requirements

In order to by employed as a Special Agent with the OSBI, an individual must, at the time of employment, be at least 21 years old and must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Neither the OSBI Commission nor the OSBI Director have the authority to waive these requirements. In addition, all employees must be persons of "outstanding honesty, integrity and ability."

Promotions

All promotions from Agent II into the higher ranks are based on tests administered by the OSBI Director, in consultation with the Administrator of the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management
Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management
The Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management is an agency of the state of Oklahoma that manages the civil service of the state government. OPM provides comprehensive human resource services to all state agencies and employees , as well as information for individuals interested in state service...

.
In general, the following minimum requirements are needed to obtain the following ranks:
  • Agent I - No law enforcement experience
  • Agent II - One year of investigative law enforcement experience
  • Special Agent - Three years of investigative law enforcement experience
  • Agent in Charge - four years of law enforcement experience
  • Division Director - four years of law enforcement experience with two years of supervisory experience


The positions of OSBI Director and Deputy Director are in the unclassified service of the state. They are appointed by the OSBI Commission without consideration to the classified employees of the OSBI. Any classified Agent that is appointed Director or Deputy Director is eligible to return to their position in the classified service without loss of benefit or salary. In order to be eligible to be appointed OSBI Director, an individual must:
  • be a professional law enforcement officer with at least five years in law enforcement
  • have at least two years experience in an administrative position with a law enforcement agency


The qualifications of the Deputy Director are the same as the Director.

Pay Structure

As established by Oklahoma law, with the salary increases effective January 1, 2007, the annual salaries for OSBI law enforcement agents are as follows:
Title Minimum Salary Mid-point Salary Maximum Salary
Director N/A N/A $80,138.10
Deputy Director N/A N/A $76,131.20
Division Director N/A N/A $72,124.29
Agent V $66,386.00 $80,386.00 (N/A) $94,386.00(N/A)
Agent in Charge $60,615.00 $73,365.00(N/A) $86,115.00(N/A)
Special Agent III $51,980.00 $63,542.00(N/A) $75,105.00(N/A)
Agent II $46,260.00 $56,072.00(N/A) $65,885.00(N/A)
Agent I $40,778.00 $49,153.00(N/A) $57,528.00(N/A)

Budget

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's budget is genereated primarily be annual appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislatue. Annual appropriations make up 46% ($17.1 million), 36% generated from the fees charged by the Bureau ($13.3 million), and the remaining 19% ($7 million) coming from various other sources.

The majority of OSBI's budget (69% or $25.9 million) is spent on employee benefits and salaries. 25% ($9.2 million) goes to operating expenses and the remaining 6% ($2.4 million) are dedicated to various other expenses.

For fiscal year 2011, each of the operating units of the Bureau operate with the following budgets:
Division Funding (in millions)
Administration Division $8.3
Investigative Services Division $12.8
Criminalistic Services Division $12.1
Information Services Division $5.5
Information Technology Office $3.2
Total $37.4

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, 4 officers have died in the line of duty.
Officer Date of Death Details
Agent Luther Bishop
Sunday, December 5, 1926
Gunfire
Agent Crockett Long
Monday, July 18, 1932
Gunfire
Agent Clifford W. Roberts
Tuesday, March 14, 1967
Struck by train
Agent Chester W. Stone
Wednesday, March 11, 1981
Heart attack

See also

  • Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
    Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
    The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security, DPS provides for the safety of Oklahomans and the administration of justice in the state...

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
    Federal Bureau of Investigation
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...

  • State bureau of investigation
    State bureau of investigation
    A State Bureau of Investigation is a state-level detective agency in the United States. They are plainclothes agencies which usually investigate both criminal and civil cases involving the state and/or multiple jurisdictions...



External links

  • OSBI homepage
  • Unsolved Case - Jack Burris
    Jack Burris
    Jack Burris served as County attorney of Mayes County, Oklahoma from 1947 until his murder in June 1952. He was the subject of one of the most famous unsolved murders in Oklahoma history...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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