OKLAHOMA CITY (February 10, 2026) - Yesterday, Governor Kevin Stitt presented Commissioner Tim Tipton with the Governor’s Medal of Valor in recognition of his decades of devoted service and many contributions to public safety.
“On behalf of all four million Oklahomans, I can tell you this: We stand by our law enforcement and support those who protect our communities and our families. I am grateful to my friend, Commissioner Tim Tipton, for his tremendous service to the state of Oklahoma,” said Governor Stitt. “He has navigated unprecedented public safety challenges with professionalism, precision, and courage, foreseeing threats and positioning state law enforcement to address them before they can endanger Oklahomans."
“He implemented a first-in-the-nation approach to smart, targeted immigration enforcement through Operation Guardian, working with federal authorities to apprehend dangerous criminals present in our state illegally. Because of that effort, Oklahoma is third in the nation for the removal of dangerous criminals in real numbers. He has worked tirelessly to protect Oklahomans and support federal law enforcement without requiring their direct presence. Oklahomans are safer because of his leadership.”
During the special ceremony surprising Commissioner Tipton with the award, Governor Stitt also announced efforts underway to name a future law enforcement training facility the Tipton Training Center, honoring the Commissioner’s legacy for decades to come.
“After almost five years in this job and nearly 38 years with the agency, this training facility is something many of us have dreamed of for our entire careers,” said Commissioner Tipton during the event. “It’s the biggest honor of my life. It has been an incredible privilege to serve as commissioner, and there’s no better way to end a career than by leading the most professional group of law enforcement officers in the country.”
Video from the event is here.
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