Jerry N. Cason

Jerry N. Cason was born October 12, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Eastmoor High School.  He received his Associates Degree from OSU, Oklahoma City, in 1982.  He is a 1995 graduate of the 180th National FBI Academy and in 1999, the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protective Course. He has an advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training from the State of Oklahoma. In 2003, Cason was elected and served as President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.

He served nine years and 11 months in the U.S. Army during which time he rose from the rank of Private E-1 to Staff Sergeant E-6. While serving in combat in Vietnam he received numerous medals and awards for valor and service.

He started his law enforcement career in 1977 with the Lawton Police Department as a Corrections Officer in the jail section. He was hired by Norman Police Department in 1978, during that time he served as a patrol officer and was a member of the Department's pistol team. 

In 1982, he graduated from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's 39th Patrol Academy and was assigned to Troop A, Cleveland County as a State Trooper. In 1988, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and assigned to the Training Division as supervisor over the Firearms Division.  During this time, he revamped the agency’s firearms program and transitioned the agency from revolvers to semi-automatic handguns and recommended the agency transition to security holsters. Cason’s recommendation for a weapon system is still in place today.  He also served as Commandant of the 44th and 45th Patrol Academies.  In 1991, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and assigned as the Public Information Officer for the Department of Public Safety and the Highway Patrol.  In 1992, he was reassigned as the Troop Commander of Training and Commandant of the 46th Patrol Academy and the Cadet Lawman Academy. Cason was assigned as the Agency representative on the C.L.E.E.T. Advisory Committee. In 1996, he was promoted to Captain and was assigned Zone Commander over the Tactical Team, Lake Patrol, Special Operation, and Director of Training.  In 1998, he was promoted to Major and assigned Region Commander and Alcohol Board Test Executive Committee.  In 2000, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and appointed Assistant Chief, which he is the longest setting Assistant Chief with six years.  In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and appointed the 23rd Chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Colonel Cason is one of only three Chief’s, at that time, to have been promoted and served in every rank and he is the first Black to be appointed Chief.

He has been married over 49 years to his wife Dixie and they have two sons and four grandchildren. Cason enjoys, playing golf, fishing, motorcycles, and amateur radio.