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John Whetsel is in his fourth term as Oklahoma County Sheriff, serving since 1997. The Whetsel family includes wife Mitzi, daughters Jonna Whetsel and Stacy Moore, son-in-law Brock Moore, and grandchildren Kailey and Bailey Moore. John and Mitzi live in Choctaw and attend St. John’s Church in Edmond.
Sheriff Whetsel began his law enforcement career in 1967, joined the Choctaw Police in 1973 and served as Police Chief for 21 years before being elected Sheriff. Sheriff Whetsel has an Associate degree in Police Science, a Bachelor degree in Government and Sociology, and Master's studies in Criminal Justice.
Sheriff Whetsel has authored many law enforcement articles, has been a guest on the Phil Donahue Show, Larry King Live, Dateline, NBC Nightly News, Hard Copy, Front Page, America’s Most Wanted and You Be The Judge, and is a nationally recognized authority on police pursuits.
Sheriff Whetsel serves on the Boy Scouts Law Enforcement Explorers National Executive Committee, Oklahoma Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, Oklahoma Justice Assistance Grant Board, Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, Character Council of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University Police Advisory Board, and Oklahoma Youth and Gang Violence Coordinating Council.
Sheriff Whetsel is a past president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association and the Oklahoma Sheriff and Peace Officers Association. He chairs the National Sheriff’s Association Traffic Safety Committee, is a member of the NSA’s Victim Services Committee, the Major County Sheriff’s Association, the Chrysler Police Advisory Board, and LESSS, an IACP Highway Safety subcommittee producing law enforcement traffic safety training videos.
Sheriff Whetsel is the recipient of many honors, including the 2009 Oklahoma County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, 2008 AARP 50 over 50 Award, Oklahoma Sheriffs Association 2006 Sheriff of the Year, the Oklahoma Transit Association 2004 Keith Leftwich Connection Award, the University of Central Oklahoma 2003 Distinguished Former Student, The Society of 40 and 8 2001 Oklahoma Grand Law Officer of the Year, the Oklahoma Rifle Association 1998 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and the Distinguished Service Award by the National Police Administration of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
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