Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN), often shortened to Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is an agency
of the government of Oklahoma
charged with minimizing the abuse of controlled substances through law enforcement measures directed primarily at drug trafficking, illicit drug manufacturing, and major suppliers of illicit drugs.
The Bureau is governed by a seven-member Commission, who members are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma
, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
. The Commission is responsible for appointing a Director of OBN to serve as the chief executive officer of the Bureau. The current Director is R. Darrell Weaver, having served in that position since September, 2006.
The Bureau of Narcotics was created in 1975 during the term of Governor David L. Boren
.
created the agency specifically to enforce drug laws. Designated the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the agency operated under the Attorney General of Oklahoma
for the next decade. Then in 1964, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement became a casualty of political conflict between the Attorney General and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
. The Division was abolished and created under the name of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. This new Bureau was placed under the direct command of the Governor of Oklahoma
. This new arrangement would last for four years.
Beginning in the late 1960s, narcotics operations and drug related crimes accelerated at a frightening pace. Despite a merger into the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
(OSBI) in 1968, only one full-time narcotics agent was employed by the state. Recognizing this problem, the Legislature granted OSBI funds to establish a full-time narcotics unit, but by the early 1970s. the unit had been proven a failure. In response, the Legislature passed the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act of 1971. The Act established the Commissioner of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control under the direction of the Attorney General. The Commissioner was responsible for the state's general interest in controlled drugs but actual enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act was left to the OSBI.
It soon became apparent that this arrangement failed to actively respond to controlling the surging drug trade. Therefore, in 1975, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics was reconstituted, this time more adequately staffed and equipped, and given the necessary autonomy to operate as an effective weapon in the war on drugs
. The Bureau has original jurisdiction statewide on all violations of the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act.
The Bureau serves as the law enforcement arm of the State government's approach tocombating drugs. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
serves as the prevention, education and treatment component. The two agencies work together to develop a comprehensive drugs control strategy for the State.
. Under current Governor of Oklahoma
Mary Fallin
, Michael C. Thompson is serving as the Secretary.
, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate
, to serve seven-year terms, with no more than any two members being from the same congressional districts. Four of the members must be lay citizens, one member must be a sitting district attorney, one must a sitting sheriff, and one must be a sitting chief of police.
The current Director of OBNDD is R. Darrell Weaver, having been appointed to that position in September 2006. Director Weaver jointed OBN in 1987, later raising through the ranks to become the Agent-in-Charge for Oklahoma City
in 1996.
The Enforcement Division is divided into six districts, each headed by an Agent-in-Charge:
. Fees generated by the Bureau make up another 41% ($5.7 million). The remaining 14% ($1.9 million) comes from various sources.
Employee benefits and salaries make up 76% ($10.6 million) of the budget, with operating expenses totalling 17% ($2.3 million) and other expenses accounting for 7% ($1 million).
For fiscal year 2011, each of the operating units of the Bureau had the following budgets:
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
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...
charged with minimizing the abuse of controlled substances through law enforcement measures directed primarily at drug trafficking, illicit drug manufacturing, and major suppliers of illicit drugs.
The Bureau is governed by a seven-member Commission, who members are 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....
. The Commission is responsible for appointing a Director of OBN to serve as the chief executive officer of the Bureau. The current Director is R. Darrell Weaver, having served in that position since September, 2006.
The Bureau of Narcotics was created in 1975 during the term of Governor David L. Boren
David L. Boren
David Lyle Boren is an academic leader and American politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, he served as the 21st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994. He is currently president of the University of Oklahoma. He was the longest serving...
.
History
In 1953, the Oklahoma LegislatureOklahoma 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...
created the agency specifically to enforce drug laws. Designated the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the agency operated under 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...
for the next decade. Then in 1964, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement became a casualty of political conflict between the Attorney General and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
. The Division was abolished and created under the name of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. This new Bureau was placed under the direct command 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...
. This new arrangement would last for four years.
Beginning in the late 1960s, narcotics operations and drug related crimes accelerated at a frightening pace. Despite a merger into the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the city police departments of the state and is the primary investigative agency of the state government...
(OSBI) in 1968, only one full-time narcotics agent was employed by the state. Recognizing this problem, the Legislature granted OSBI funds to establish a full-time narcotics unit, but by the early 1970s. the unit had been proven a failure. In response, the Legislature passed the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act of 1971. The Act established the Commissioner of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control under the direction of the Attorney General. The Commissioner was responsible for the state's general interest in controlled drugs but actual enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act was left to the OSBI.
It soon became apparent that this arrangement failed to actively respond to controlling the surging drug trade. Therefore, in 1975, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics was reconstituted, this time more adequately staffed and equipped, and given the necessary autonomy to operate as an effective weapon in the war on drugs
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
. The Bureau has original jurisdiction statewide on all violations of the Uniform Control Dangerous Substances Act.
Mission and function
The Bureau of Narcotics is designed to enforce the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act as outlined in the Oklahoma Statute Title 63, train and assist local law enforcement agencies, and compile drug related statistics. OBN provides a leadership role for law enforcement throughout the state for the investigative effort directed toward the illegal use of controlled dangerous substances.The Bureau serves as the law enforcement arm of the State government's approach tocombating drugs. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is an agency of the Government of Oklahoma responsible for providing public health services relating to mental illness and substance abuse...
serves as the prevention, education and treatment component. The two agencies work together to develop a comprehensive drugs control strategy for the State.
Leadership
The Bureau of Narcotcs is under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and SecurityOklahoma 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...
. Under current 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.
| Office | Incumbent | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Secretary | Mike Thompson | 2011 |
| Director | R. Darrell Weaver | 2006 |
OBNDD Commission
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) Commission is the governing body of the Bureau. The Commission sets Bureau policy, approves budget requests, appoints and removes the Director of the Bureau, and hears appeals on Bureau actions from adversely affected parties. The Commission is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor of OklahomaGovernor 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, with no more than any two members being from the same congressional districts. Four of the members must be lay citizens, one member must be a sitting district attorney, one must a sitting sheriff, and one must be a sitting chief of police.
OBNDD Director
OBN Commission is responsible for appointing a Director of the Bureau. The Director is the chief executive officer of the Bureau, the state's chief drug enforcement officer and serve serves at the pleasure of the OBN Commission. In order to be appointed Director, a person must have a Bachelor's degree and have at least five years experience in drug law enforcement.The current Director of OBNDD is R. Darrell Weaver, having been appointed to that position in September 2006. Director Weaver jointed OBN in 1987, later raising through the ranks to become the Agent-in-Charge for Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
in 1996.
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 OBNDDC Commission to be the professional head of the Bureau of Narcotics. | OHP Colonel |
| Division Director | Responsible for directing a Division of the Bureau | OHP Major |
| Agent in Charge | Responsible for directed investigations of a District Office or managing a major program of a Division, oversees both commissioned and non-commissioned employees | OHP Captain |
| Assistant Agent in Charge | First supervisory rank, responsible for assisting in directing investigations of a District Office or supervising a major Headquarters program | OHP Lieutenant |
| Senior Agent | Responsible for leading investigations and assisting lower level Agents in the performance of their duties | OHP Sergeant |
| Agent Special agent Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency.... |
Responsible for field narcotics operations or specialized or technical law enforcement function | OHP Trooper |
Administration Division
The Administration Division is responsible for providing overall exercutive direction and oversight for the activities of the Bureau.- Training Section
- Records Section
- Communications Section
- Legal Section
- Public Information Office
- Fiscal Section
- Personnel Section
- Property Section
Diversion Division
The Diversion Division of OBN investigates cases in which legally manufactured and distributed pharmaceutical controlled substances are diverted into an illegal market. Agents are trained to conduct complex investigations and audit professional handlers of controlled drugs. Because of the regulatory nature of these kinds of controlled substances, Agents work on both criminal and administrative cases.Intelligence Division
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control Intelligence Division utilizes specialized techniques in conjunction with traditional drug enforcement investigative methods to address prioritized significant drug trafficking organizations.Enforcement Division
The Bureau's largest section contains Agents at each district office and at headquarters who primarily enforce Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and applicable federal statutes under Title 21 of the United States Code. The Agents not only conduct small undercover drug purchases, but also investigate multi-jurisdictional complex conspiracy cases, which require criminal investigative expertise. Marijuana eradication is a primary of Enforcement Agents. However, because of new, simpler methamphetamine recipes surfacing, these Agents are spending greater amounts of time investigating the manufacturing and sale of domestically-produced methamphetamine.The Enforcement Division is divided into six districts, each headed by an Agent-in-Charge:
- Oklahoma City District - north central
- Tulsa District - northeastern
- McAlester District - southeastern
- Ardmore District - south central
- Lawton District - southwestern
- Woodward District - northwestern
Staffing
The Bureau of Narcotics, with an annual budget of almost $14 million, employs several dozen employees. For fiscal year 2010, the Bureau was authozied 135 employees.| Division | Number of Employees |
|---|---|
| Administration Division | 13 |
| Enforcement Division | 56 |
| Intelligence Division | 23 |
| Diversion Division | 12 |
| Information Technology Office | 13 |
| Training and Education Office | 18 |
| Total | 135 |
Pay Structure
As established by Oklahoma law, with the salary increases effective January 1, 2007, the annual salaries for OBN law enforcement agents are as follows:| Title | Minimum Salary | Mid-point Salary | Maximum Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | N/A | N/A | $96,305 |
| Deputy Director | N/A | N/A | $91,490 |
| Division Director | N/A | N/A | $86,675 |
| Agent in Charge | $66,140 | $70,000 | $84,000 |
| Assistant Agent in Charge | $58,365 | $63,750 | $76,500 |
| Senior Agent | $50,042 | $57,812 | $69,375 |
| Special Agent | $43,714 | $49,062 | $58,875 |
| Agent Cade | $35,287 | $41,875 | $50,250 |
Budget
The Bureau of Narcotics receices 45% ($6.3 million) of its budget from annual appropriations from the Oklahoma LegislatureOklahoma 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...
. Fees generated by the Bureau make up another 41% ($5.7 million). The remaining 14% ($1.9 million) comes from various sources.
Employee benefits and salaries make up 76% ($10.6 million) of the budget, with operating expenses totalling 17% ($2.3 million) and other expenses accounting for 7% ($1 million).
For fiscal year 2011, each of the operating units of the Bureau had the following budgets:
| Division | Funding (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Administration Division | $1.4 |
| Enforcement Division | $6.4 |
| Intelligence Division | $3.4 |
| Diversion Division | $1.4 |
| Information Technology Office | $1.8 |
| Training and Education Office | $0.6 |
| Total | $13.9 |
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, 3 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Narcotics Agent Billy Fairl Morgan | |
Aircraft accident |
| Agent William Ross Stewart | |
Gunfire |
| Agent Choc Douglas Ericsson | |
Vehicular assault |
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Highway PatrolOklahoma Highway PatrolThe 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...
- Oklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationOklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationThe Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is an independent state law enforcement agency of the government of Oklahoma. The OSBI assists the city police departments of the state and is the primary investigative agency of the state government...
- Oklahoma Department of Public SafetyOklahoma Department of Public SafetyThe 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...
- Drug Enforcement AdministrationDrug Enforcement AdministrationThe Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...