COMM U N I T Y
BY: JOY HAMPTON
Service Spotlight:
Deputy Larry Wade
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upervisors describe Deputy Larry Wade as a positive, upbeat person who embodies compassionate service and community policing. “He’s someone you can relate to,” said Capt. Jeff Cox, patrol supervisor. “He makes you feel comfortable when you speak to him. He’s very personable.” Although Wade joined the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office five years ago, and he has a decade of law enforcement experience starting with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked for five years. Like many in the sheriff’s office, he started his service to Cleveland County at the jail. “I started at the detention center as a detention officer and was promoted to corporal,” he said. “From there, I went to the courthouse to work judicial services.” After a year, he moved to patrol where he currently serves. Wade grew up in Cleveland County, and he said his father was a great role
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model who influenced his commitment to serve and protect the public. “I followed in his footsteps,” he said. “My dad was in the Air Force for 20 years in the law enforcement side.” Wade is hoping to eventually become a detective and work child crimes. He is passionate about protecting children, and he believes he could make a difference in children’s lives. It’s not an easy job, but Wade believes it’s a noble profession and just as his father was his role model, Wade wants to be a role model for his children. His oldest daughter is about to graduate from high school, and she plans to study criminal justice in college, then pursue a career in law enforcement. He said deputies and others in law enforcement often interact with people in crisis, which provides unique opportunities for compassionate service. “Every day when we go out, we try to make a positive impact,” he said. “Whenever I’m interacting with someone, I try to keep in mind how I would
act if it was my mother or father or my children and take that approach when I interact with them.” For Wade, serving in a variety of divisions at the sheriff’s office has been a great training ground for his future goals. “There are so many different divisions in the agency,” he said. “Working in different divisions has made me a better deputy. Being at the jail and dealing with people from all different cultural backgrounds and religions and learning to de-escalate situations has served me out in the field.” In law enforcement, whether it’s working detention, serving at the courthouse or driving patrol, every day is different, Wade said, but patrol deputies interact mostly with people in crisis, possibly at the worst moments of their lives. “I try to be a positive presence in their time of need,” he said. “The other deputies are great mentors. They are very professional, and I’ve learned from them. We have a lot of good leadership here.” This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.
