[ Ed. note: Jeremiah Loper has authorized the Times & Free Press to publish the following paid political announcement of his candidacy for Kingfisher County Sheriff, subject to the June 18 Republican primary election.]

My name is Jeremiah Loper, and I am running for Kingfisher County Sheriff.

I began working when I was 15 years old participating in the school work program, discovering it was a way to help my family financially.

I graduated from Belton High School in Belton, Texas, in 2006.

After graduation I worked several jobs, including as a fry cook, in construction and painting water towers. While these jobs provided financial support, they weren’t personally fulfilling.

In 2009, I met my wife, Monica, in Waxahachie, Texas. We married in July 2010 and relocated to Oklahoma City in January 2011 to be closer to her family.

After coming to Oklahoma, I worked at the Braum’s Dairy Farm in Tuttle as a pastureman for several years then the Hobby Lobby Distribution Center. Again, these jobs were not rewarding to me and I felt like I had more to offer society.

In 2016, my wife and I decided to move to Kingfisher where we bought our home in 2017.

We have two children, Waylon and Jessie May. Both of our children attend Kingfisher Public Schools where my wife is also employed.

In Kingfisher, I briefly worked for Henry’s Construction then NAPA.

I soon learned of an opportunity at the Kingfisher County Jail. The opportunity to become part of a law enforcement career inspired me and I knew that it was what I had been looking for.

After prayerful consideration I applied. In January 2018, I began working at the jail as a jailer.

In 2019, I enrolled in CLEET reserve academy through Hennessey after the chief at the time approached me. Eager to advance in law enforcement, I completed the academy in 2020 while continuing my work as a jailer.

Subsequently, I transitioned to full-time employment with the Hennessey Police Department. I completed CLEET certification and worked as a certified full-time police officer.

However, in May 2023 I opted for reserve officer status with Hennessey to spend more time with my family while working fulltime at Tony’s Pump and Supply.

During my time as a jailer, the aspiration of becoming sheriff took root and grew during my time as a police officer.

My dedication to serving the Kingfisher County community has remained steadfast.

As a police officer, I have been very proactive in addressing illegal drug use and distribution.

I believe in implementing various strategies to combat drug abuse and enhancing deputy training.

Strengthening patrols and reducing response times by increasing deputy numbers is essential for community safety and officer well-being.

As sheriff, I intend to develop specialized departments within the sheriff’s office, including a drug task force, child crimes investigation unit and theft investigation unit.

Moreover, I aim to develop crime prevention initiatives, foster community policing efforts and provide public education programs. I strongly believe in child and victim advocacy. I feel it is important assisting in intervention services and support for individuals struggling with alcohol and substance abuse and mental health services. I feel it is important to implement prevention programs aimed at reducing drug use among youth and at-risk communities. I have been a member of the Masonic Lodge since 2012. My achievements include line safety officer certifi cation, taser certified and highway drug interdiction training with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. I am pro-Second Amendment and pro-Constitution. Acknowledging that I have been considered the underdog in this election, I also know that underdogs are often overlooked and underestimated. This only challenges me to work harder and continuously improve by learning more. I am deeply passionate about any issues regarding Kingfisher County. In law enforcement, the importance of consistency of action, principled behavior and possessing high ethical expectation of self and others is priority. All law enforcement entities should be transparent and act with honor and truthfulness showing no discrimination.

As your sheriff of Kingfi sher County, I pledge to continue making our community a safe place for all, ensuring a brighter future for our children and generations to come. Thank you for your support.

Paid for by Jeremiah Loper