ABLE Executive Director

Mr. Clabes was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, Brandon Clabes came to the Oklahoma City area in 1964.

Mr. Clabes graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1979 with bachelor’s in public administration and was hired by the Midwest City Police Department (MWCPD) as a patrol officer.  He was promoted through the ranks and served as Assistant Chief under two separate administrations.

In August of 1999, Mr. Clabes was appointed to Police Chief of Midwest City Police Department and was honored to work daily with the Department’s 131 employees.  He is the longest serving Chief in the history of the agency.  The MWCPD has a “community based policing” mission and strives on a daily basis to deliver the best police services available.

Mr. Clabes has been married 32 years to his beautiful wife Sandy and they have three wonderful children, Collin, Morgan, and Gabriella.  This is one of his greatest accomplishments.  He also has a grandson named Cash.

Mr. Clabes is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, United States Secret Service Dignitary Protective Services program, past president of the Metro Chief’s Association, a longtime board member for the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police (a state-wide organization).  He is an adjunct professor at Rose State College, was on the Advisory Board of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for Prevention of Terrorism.

Mr. Clabes was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin as Commissioner for the Department of Human Services in 2012, Commissioner for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs in 2013, and to the Board of Regents for Rose State College in 2016.  He also served on the Oklahoma Commission for School Security with former Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb and was appointed to serve as a member of the Department of Justice Medal of Valor Review Board by Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, He was reappointed in July of 2022 by the Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Republican Leader of the  United States House of Representatives. In January of 2019, former Attorney General Mike Hunter appointed Mr. Clabes to serve on the Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Board to represent all municipal police agencies.  Mr. Clabes also currently serves on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Choctaw.

Mr. Clabes retired from the Midwest City Police Department in May 2021 and began as Executive Director of the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) in Ada, Oklahoma on May 17, 2021.

Mr. Brandon Clabes is the latest Executive Director of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission as of October 1, 2022.

The Director of the ABLE Commission has the following powers and duties:

1. To employ such personnel as necessary to properly enforce and administer the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Oklahoma Charity Games Act, and Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act.
2. To issue all licenses which are authorized to be issued by the Commission.
3. To conduct investigations and to make reports concerning violations of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, Youth Access To Tobacco Act, and Charity Games Act and to make orders for its enforcement.
4. To make recommendations to the Commission concerning the suspension or revocation of any licenses and the levying of fines against licensees for violations of the Acts or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.
5. To regularly inspect all places of business of licensees.
6. To aid the enforcement authorities of the state or any county or municipality in the prosecution of any violations of the Acts.