Command and Staff Program

By Readiness Network, Inc.

Deputy Chief Kent Ray, University of Oklahoma Police (Norman Campus) [email protected] ~ 405-343-7718

I have been employed at OUPD for over twenty-five years. I am currently the Norman Campus Deputy Chief. In my current role, I am responsible for the daily operations of the Norman Campus Police Department. The University of Oklahoma has three campuses that fall under OUPD Chief Nathaniel Tarver (OCPD Retired). During my time at OUPD, I have served as a Patrol Supervisor, Departmental Training Officer, Field Training Coordinator, and Operations Division Commander.
I retired from the Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKANG) in 2013 after serving over twenty years as an enlisted field artilleryman and later as a field artillery officer in the 45th Field Artillery Brigade. I am an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran.

Captain Jeff Spruill, OKC PD, [email protected] ~ 405.412.2532

Captain Jeff Spruill is a second-generation Oklahoma City Police officer who joined the department in 2003. He spent much of his career as a patrol officer in the city’s central core, including a rotation in the Gang Enforcement Summer Initiative. Before becoming a supervisor, he also worked as a bike patrol officer in the Bricktown Entertainment District. Captain Spruill promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2013 and became a patrol supervisor in the Santa Fe Division on the city’s south side, where he also supervised the division’s Mobile Command Post team. He moved from that assignment to the Hefner Patrol Division.

In 2019, he promoted to the rank of Captain and remained at the Hefner Division as the shift commander for second and fourth shifts, until he moved to the Southwest Division to serve as the dayshift commander and Executive Officer of the division. He currently serves as the commander of the Property Crimes section in the Investigations Bureau. A teacher at heart, Captain Spruill has taught officer in-service classes, classes for police families, and in supervisor schools in the areas of Emotional Survival and Officer Wellness, as well as shift level leadership strategies. He has also been a guest lecturer on urban policing in Intro to Criminology classes.

Outside of his role on the police department, Captain Spruill holds a Master of Arts degree in English and taught English Composition to college freshman for seven years. He serves as the Deacon over Benevolence at the Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. He is also an avid runner, outdoorsman, and father to twin sons.

Captain Matt Lindsey, OKC PD, [email protected] ~ 405.623.8512

Captain Matt Lindsey grew up in the Oklahoma City area and graduated from Mid-America Christian University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree. While attending Mid-America Christian University, he met his wife, Samantha. The two have been married for seventeen years and have two children.

After graduating college, Captain Lindsey followed in his father’s footsteps and was hired by the Oklahoma City Police Department in October of 2004. He spent the first eleven years of his law enforcement career as a patrol officer on the southside of Oklahoma City. While working in patrol, he served as a Field Training Officer, Bike Patrol Officer and Control and Defensive Tactics Instructor.

In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. As a first-line supervisor, he was assigned to the Inmate Processing Unit, Santa Fe Patrol Division and Sex Crimes Unit. In 2017, he transferred to Internal Affairs and worked as an investigator. In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of captain and assigned to his current assignment as a shift commander at Springlake Division.

Captain Jeremy Harrison, OKC PD, [email protected] ~ 405.834.9162

Captain Jeremy Harrison is an 18-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department. He is currently the Criminal Intelligence Commander and Tactical Unit (SWAT) Commander. Jeremy has had a wide array of experience as a police officer, including a patrol officer, street narcotics officer, internal affairs investigator, patrol supervisor, and watch commander.

In the spring of 2020, Jeremy had the opportunity to implement a new unit, the Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT) to focus on reducing violent crime. VCAT started with 18 officers and three lieutenants. The unit made nearly 1,000 felony arrests and seized over 300 firearms during its first year in existence. VCAT played an integral role in protecting businesses and citizens during two nights of riots following the death of George Floyd in 2020. VCAT continued to support ongoing protests throughout the summer of 2020.

Captain Harrison has collaborated with other officers to propose and implement numerous changes within the police department. Some of these projects include creating a Reality-Based Training unit, a supervisory and leadership school for Captains and Lieutenants, and writing a guidebook for new captains and lieutenants. He also led the transition from paper to digital administrative investigations, department-wide formalized debriefs, and table-top exercises for field officers. He is currently in the early stages of implementing a Real-Time Crime Center.

Captain Harrison has been a resident of Oklahoma City his entire life and grew up as a member of the police family. His father is currently an Oklahoma City Police officer with 45 years of experience. Captain Harrison’s connection to the police department and community has driven a passion for helping the department move toward the cutting edge of law enforcement.

Captain Harrison received his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He recently celebrated ten years of marriage with his wife. Together they love playing baseball and soccer with their two young sons. He is committed to serving God, loving his family well, and helping to serve the police department, which has provided a way to serve his community throughout his entire life.

Captain Dan Sharp, OKC PD, [email protected] ~ 405.630.9618

Capt. Aron Daniel “Dan” Sharp is a 23-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department. Capt. Sharp holds a BA in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Communications from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Throughout his career, he has held assignments in patrol, undercover street crimes, Investigations, Internal Affairs/Professional Standards, Gang Enforcement, and Criminal Intelligence. As a lieutenant, he supervised the Gang Enforcement Unit then transferred to Southwest Division as a patrol supervisor. In 2016 he was assigned to the Criminal Intelligence Unit. He spent five years as the supervisor over the Intelligence Unit, which included the Computer Forensics Unit, Fusion Center Liaison Task Force Officers, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers, and Predator Interdiction Unit. As the Criminal Intelligence Unit supervisor, he collaborated with and developed relationships with federal, state, and local partners.

Capt. Sharp has also served as the Oklahoma City Police Department’s liaison for the FBI’s National Domestic Communication Assistance Center and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center. He has completed the FBI National Academy’s Introduction to Intelligence Theory and Application for Law Enforcement Supervisors, class number 17-01. He also completed the Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Training Academy’s Managing Collaborative Analysis Course. He has coordinated and managed numerous large-scale undercover safety and surveillance operations during national events such as the OKC Memorial Marathon, highly populated events such as 4th of July celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Opening Night Celebrations.

In February of 2021, Dan was promoted to captain in the Operations Bureau and currently serves as a shift commander at Southwest Patrol Division.

Outside of his law enforcement duties, Dan and his wife run a successful cattle operation raising Scottish Highland Cattle. Dan has one adult and two college-age children.

Major George Schmerer, University of Oklahoma HSC Police Department, [email protected]u ~ 405.306.2105

My name is George Schmerer, and I am currently a Major with the University of Oklahoma Police Department on the Health Sciences Center campus, serving as the Patrol Commander. I have been with the police department for twenty-two years, and have been blessed to hold many positions within the department, from patrol officer to my current position. Because of my wide experiences, I am acutely aware of the organization’s mission and purpose within the university and what that also means for the surrounding community we serve. For several years, I served as the supervisor for our Criminal Investigative Division, which is a tremendous source of pride for me. I have been able to work with many university leaders and department heads, as well as leaders in our community to create and maintain positive working relationships to serve our community. I have been very fortunate to mentor and guide officers who have a great desire to learn more and develop their skills, even when they are not assigned to investigations. I have also worked very closely with every supervisor within our organization to provide the relevant and timely resources and guidance, whether it was related to a case or to the organization’s needs.