Director of Law Enforcement

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the administrative direction of the Executive Director, the Director of Law Enforcement serves as the agency’s senior‑most law enforcement official, responsible for planning, directing, and supervising all enforcement operations that safeguard the integrity of horse racing and racetrack gaming in the State of Oklahoma. This position oversees OHRC Law Enforcement Agents, designs investigative and compliance strategies, ensures regulatory adherence to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act, Rules of Racing, and Rules for Racetrack Gaming, and maintains strong interagency partnerships for criminal, administrative, and regulatory enforcement matters. This is a leadership position requiring independent judgment, high technical competence, and demonstrated expertise in criminal investigations, regulatory enforcement, and supervisory practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, police science, behavioral science, public administration, or a closely related field.
Minimum of six years of law enforcement experience, with at least four years in criminal or regulatory investigations—or equivalent combination of education and experience.
CLEET Peace Officer Certification required at appointment (consistent with Agent I and OHRC requirements)
Must pass a full background investigation (OSBI, FBI, ARCI).
Must have no felony convictions or disqualifying misdemeanors related to gambling, domestic violence, or moral turpitude (consistent with OHRC enforcement standards).
Must comply with all OHRC prohibitions concerning wagering, horse ownership, and gaming participation
Must be willing to work irregular hours, including race‑day events, emergencies, and overnight investigations.
Must be able to travel statewide as required.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated supervisory experience preferred.
Experience in racing, gaming enforcement, or equine‑industry investigations preferred.

Responsibilities

Administers, directs, and supervises complex investigations relating to violations of the Rules of Racing, statutes governing horse racing and gaming, prohibited practices, illegal wagering, race manipulation, and criminal activity occurring on or affecting racetrack property.
Oversees investigations of illegal horse racing operations statewide and ensures coordinated response with local, state, and federal entities.
Ensures proper execution of searches, seizures, evidence handling, witness interviews, suspect interrogations, and preparation of investigative reports in compliance with state laws, agency policies, and evidentiary standards.
Oversees major incidents including equine fatalities, serious injuries, race‑day integrity threats, gaming fraud, and criminal activity as outlined in the Significant Incident Notification Procedure.
Provides direction and oversight during undercover investigations and interagency criminal operations.
Implements and enforces the Rules of Racing (Title 325 Oklahoma Administrative Code) governing racing personnel, veterinarians, stewards, track operations, equine welfare, testing procedures, and wagering integrity.
Oversees casino gaming enforcement at racetrack gaming facilities to ensure compliance with the Rules of Racetrack Gaming, including machine testing, logic‑area access monitoring, surveillance compliance, seal verification, and fraud detection.
Ensures timely and accurate review of licensing background investigations for all occupational licensees.
Leads enforcement actions relating to prohibited devices, tampering, contraband, and rule violations involving licensees.
Plans, assigns, and evaluates the work of OHRC Law Enforcement Agents, including training, performance evaluations, disciplinary recommendations, and professional development.
Issues directives, operational guidance, and investigative standards to field personnel.
Ensures all agents comply with OHRC Personnel Manual requirements, including ethics, wagering prohibitions, communications protocols, and conduct expectations.
Maintains strong working relationships with local police, sheriff’s offices, tribal law enforcement, state agencies (e.g., DPS, AG’s Office), and federal partners as investigations require.
Represents the OHRC at interagency meetings, task forces, conferences, Racing Integrity Roundtables, and collaborative enforcement initiatives (e.g., Invitation – Racing Integrity Roundtable Participation & RSVP Required).
Oversees law enforcement modernization efforts and digitization of records aligned with agency initiatives (open records portal, fatality tracking, RMS transition) as reflected in modernization planning discussions.
Ensures compliance with mandatory equine fatality reporting, integrity safeguards, and administrative inspection requirements.
Provides comprehensive investigative summaries and prosecution packets to the Executive Director, General Counsel, District Attorneys, and other appropriate authorities.
Testifies in administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings.
Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to OHRC policies governing communications with Commissioners.