Deputy Chief Ron C. Bacy Named As Oklahoma City's 51st Police Chief

Deputy Chief Ron C. Bacy will be named as the next chief of the Oklahoma City Police Department, City Manager Craig Freeman announced on Friday. The decision comes after a six-month nationwide search for a successor to Chief Wade Gourley, who retired following a 34-year career, including five years as the department’s top leader.

Sources say the decision to promote from within was announced to all department staff on Thursday evening. Bacy, a 32-year veteran of the department, brings decades of experience and leadership to the role as the department’s 51st chief.

Bacy began his career with the department in August 1992 as a patrol officer in the Springlake Division, according to OKC’s website. Over the years, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Lieutenant in the Santa Fe and Springlake patrol divisions, where he supervised field training officers and the Emergency Response Team. Bacy became a familiar face as he assumed a role as on-call public information officer as Lieutenant. He later took on assignments in the Training and Special Investigations divisions before becoming captain in 2010, with roles in the Operations Bureau, Investigations Bureau, and the Office of Professional Standards.

Moving up in the ranks in 2019, Bacy was promoted to Major and was subsequently assigned to the Southwest Division before taking on responsibilities in Operations Administration. He was promoted to Deputy Chief in January 2021, most recently overseeing Investigations.

Freeman, who is responsible for hiring the police chief, called it one of the most important decisions on the job. From the onset of the hiring process, Freeman emphasized the need to find a leader skilled in management to ensure OCPD’s recent success continues. He said the ideal police chief would have extensive operational experience.

The job listing also called for candidates who will “ develop community-based and 21st-century policing strategies that will allow officers to build transformational relationships with community members.”

Public records show the city sought input from 50 community members including church leaders, mental health professionals, law enforcement stakeholders, and representatives from OKC’s marginalized communities. The community feedback was then used to develop the questions to help screen the candidates.

Bacy’s extensive involvement in community initiatives and policy development aligns closely with the city’s preferences. He serves on the Oklahoma City Law Enforcement Policy Task Force and the Oklahoma City Community Policing Working Group.

Over the years, Bacy has been actively involved in various community organizations, including serving as a board member and volunteer for groups like the Academy of Law & Public Safety at Douglass High School, the OSU-OKC Police Science Advisory Board, and Stop the Violence OKC, according to his city profile.

The city manager is expected to discuss the hiring process and make an official announcement of Bacy’s appointment at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug 16th.

Bacy is also expected to make his first public remarks as he leads the department into its next phase.