Leaders listen.

Among the many other strong leadership qualities possessed by recently-appointed Kingfisher Police Chief Travis Gray, listening is a trait he’s never been afraid to employ during his 24year career in law enforcement.

Actually, his career began with listening.

Hearing what God was telling him and acting on it.

Born and raised in Kingfisher, Gray graduated from KHS in 1988, married his sweetheart Wanda Cofer in December 1990 and then joined the U.S. Army where he was later stationed in Berlin, Germany, from 19911994.

Almost immediately after going abroad, Gray was deployed to Silopi, Turkey, for Operation Provide Comfort II during the Gulf War.

While in Turkey for two years, Gray helped build an airfi eld for a helicopter unit among other things, then completed his final two years of service in Germany.

After returning to Kingfisher, Gray said he applied and was in the hiring process with the Oklahoma City Police Department when his grandfather became very ill. Gray put his aspirations of becoming a police officer on hold to focus on his grandfather.

Once his grandfather passed, Gray said he was working a job outside of law enforcement when his buddy in South Carolina, who had recently been hired as a sheriff’s deputy there, reached out to him.

As his buddy encouraged him to reapply, Gray told him, “If that’s what God wants me to do then it will come back around.”

At that time his friend had recently become a Christian and shared his encounter with him.

Relaying that event with Gray, his buddy told him he was hunting in the woods when it got dark and he couldn’t find his way out.

“I realized I was lost and unable to find my way out and finally fell to my knees asking ‘God what do you want?’” his friend said.

At that moment, he told Gray he gave everything to God and the wood line opened up and he was able to see a straight path to his truck.

With that story in the back of his mind, Gray said the next day he received a call from the Okarche Police chief asking him if was still interested in law enforcement.

“I took that as a cue,” Gray said. “I figured I probably better run with this deal to see where it goes…and here I am 24 years later.”

With seven years of service at the Okarche Police Department, Gray accepted a position with KPD where he has given 17 years of service to the community as an officer and in various supervisory positions.

Most recently Gray served as interim police chief for three months when Chief David Catron announced his retirement in May. Before that, he held the position of assistant police chief for four years alongside Catron.

Gray also knew and worked under former Police Chief Dennis Baker for many years.

Baker recalled his time with Gray.

“Travis has a strong work ethic, is good at what he does and is always considering in each case how he could have done better and seeking the counsel of the local assistant district attorneys and other officers for advice and feedback,” Baker said.

“He also takes time to listen, processes things carefully and always offers sound advice – but only after listening to what the subordinate officer thought might be the right directions to take.”

Baker said Gray exhibits other leadership qualities as well.

“Travis has always understood that leading was not only a process of making sure the right things were done in a situation, but understanding that learning from each experience was equally important,” he added.

Through the years, Gray said there have been many changes and challenges in law enforcement and that every day is a learning experience.

“Every situation, every investigation is different,” he said.

“They’ll have similarities, but different circumstances, and sometimes you have to seek out the answer from other people.”

Having worked alongside several of the officers - Dustin Brodrick, Justin Trumbley, Chod Trout and Aaron Schlegel - for upwards of 15 years or more, Gray said there’s a lot of experience to tap into.

“We’ve got good guys throughout, but I’ve worked with those guys a really long time and we work well together,” he added.

Beyond having a great deal of confidence in his officers and their abilities, Gray said he and the other officers have good working relationships with outside agencies and are able to reach out for answers when they need them.

Reflecting on his career, Gray said law enforcement is mostly self-gratification in knowing you have been able to help people.

“Letters of commendation are really nice to get, but I’ve always been fine with knowing every case I’ve ever done, I’ve put my best into it and been satisfied with that,” he added.

While on the job, Gray said sometimes people just need someone they can vent to and you can just have patience, listen to them and let them blow off steam…and you might even end up with a new friend out of the deal.

“I’ve met a lot of good people and made a lot of friends in my time…a lot of them on traffic stops,” he said.

“I don’t know how many conversations I’ve ended up in talking about hunting or fishing with somebody I’ve pulled over.”

One of his passions since he was a kid, Gray said he has always enjoyed hunting and fishing and remembers getting off the school bus, passing through the garage just long enough to grab a fishing pole and head straight to the pond.

Now that he’s older, he said he still enjoys hunting and fishing, but isn’t quite so die-hard about it and really just loves the beauty and peacefulness of nature.

Spending time with his family is also very important to Gray.

He and Wanda have three grown children, Izak (Cassey), Ben and Abby, who all live and work in the community.

As Gray begins to fulfill his new role as chief, he said his goals for the department are to continue growing, working to keep the community safe and confident that they are safe.

“We’ll just keep doing what we do and do our best to keep up relations and take out the criminal element where we can,” Gray added.

“It’s been a good career and I believe what the Bible says about if God puts you in there, nobody can take you out.”

Always keeping that in the back of his mind, Gray said in any type of situation where he thought this might be it, he was okay with the fact that it meant things had just run its course.

With plenty of prayers on the way to calls, at calls and in constant communication asking for guidance, wisdom and support, Gray said, “So far He’s pulled me through every sticky situation.”

Commenting on how Gray has always had a strong moral compass, Baker said, “Right is right and wrong is wrong and he understands that if an offi cer will follow policy and the law, they will generally come out on the right side of most all situations.

“He also understands how to balance those truths with discretion. Not everyone needs a citation. Not everyone needs to be jailed. Every situation is different and he understands that officers need to look at the intent of the law and its application versus always looking strictly to the letter of the law.

“Travis knows that he has a number of people that he can call upon, present company included, to bounce thoughts, ideas and even concerns off of to make sure he’s always moving forward in the best directions possible. I think he’s going to do a great job for the department and will be an exceptional chief of police for this city.”

Over the past three months and since being appointed chief last week, Gray said he has received many congratulations and that it’s been truly humbling.

“I’m a little bit blown away, super happy and thankful,” Gray added.

“I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to be the chief at some point. I always thought I’d like to be given this opportunity. I am threefourths of the way through my career and this will be a good way to finish it out.”