Guest Speaker: Shannon T. Clark

Shannon T. Clark serves as Executive Director (Chief Executive Officer) & Chief of Law Enforcement for the Okmulgee County Criminal Justice Authority (OCCJA). He has more than 33 years of combined experience in law enforcement and law enforcement administration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management and an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. He is also a state qualified Mediation Professional specializing in civil dispute resolution.

Mr. Clark comes from a family of law enforcement officials, and as a teenager he became a Law Enforcement Explorer; Clark knew precisely what he wanted his career path to look like while following in the family footsteps. He became a Public Safety Communications Officer until he was old enough to attend the Basic Police Officer Certification Academy. Once a certified law enforcement officer, Clark’s career allowed him to develop skills and experience in nearly every role within the public safety community. Clark spent years in criminal patrol, investigations, courthouse security, and training new officers in the field. Most notably, Clark’s experience allowed him to perform as a Sniper Team Leader on the Special Operations Team and commanded law enforcement operations for the Tulsa State Fair. Continuing his career, Clark began to focus on law enforcement administration. He retired as a Major while commanding more than 440 employees at the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center and overseeing more than 34 million dollars in operational budgets.

Clark is a certified instructor with the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) and presents on a variety of curriculum in law enforcement, media relations, communication, and detention topics. He specializes in Critical Incident Counseling, Crisis Communications, Defensive Tactics, Criminal Investigation, and Adult Detention. He has presented for the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association, CLEET, the National Sheriff’s Association, American Correctional Association, National Institute of Corrections, American Jail Association, Large Jail Network, and countless other professional organizations. He has authored articles on adult detention and immigration enforcement in industry
specific publications. He has been a featured guest on several local, state, and national media networks as an expert in law enforcement topics.

Clark is a graduate of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration and Center for American and International Law 86th School of Police Supervision, the United States Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) National Academy, the Federal Bureau of Investigations LEEDA Executive Leadership program, The Oklahoma Sheriff’s Academy, the Oklahoma Police Chief’s Academy, and he holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification from CLEET. He has also served on numerous local, state, and national boards, committees, and non-profit advisory groups.

Currently, Clark thrives on the challenges associated with operating the Okmulgee County Criminal Justice Authority with approximately 120 employees and more than 450 detainees. He finds this job to be personally and professionally fulfilling and considers himself to be blessed to have such a rewarding career. When Clark is not dedicating his time to the day-to-day operations of the OCCJA, he spends time as an avid outdoorsman and enjoying family activities with his five children and four grandchildren.