MAGA Oklahoma Sheriff Clashes with City Officer During Heated Traffic Stop Days After White House Visit
- Victor Nwoko
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
A roadside confrontation between Canadian County Sheriff Chris West and an Oklahoma City police officer has ignited debate over professional courtesy, accountability, and tensions between law enforcement agencies. The incident occurred just four days after West stood alongside former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of an executive order aimed at empowering law enforcement nationwide.
On May 2, West was pulled over by an Oklahoma City police officer for allegedly speeding 58 mph in a 45 mph zone along Mustang Road, just outside Oklahoma City limits. As the officer approached the vehicle, he quickly recognized the driver.
"You're the sheriff, aren't you?" he asked through the window.
Despite recognizing West, the officer initially said he intended only to issue a warning. However, Sheriff West appeared reluctant to leave any documentation of the stop. “Do you need to? I’d rather there not be anything documented,” West responded. The officer, skeptical, pushed back: “Nothing documented? Is it an election year?”
Frustrated, West shot back: “Go get your piece of paper,” clearly irritated by the exchange.
The officer returned with the written warning and reiterated that issuing it had been his original intent. The exchange quickly turned sharper. West, a retired state trooper, expressed his disapproval. “Well, here’s my deal,” he said. “You know, I’m a retired trooper. I never did this. When I stopped cops, as soon as I found out...” His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear — he expected different treatment.
“You could just not speed,” the officer replied bluntly.
West insisted he was on official county business. “This is a county vehicle and I’m working right now. No different than you going somewhere else,” he said. “Listen, I’m not going to call your chief and complain.”
However, Oklahoma City Police confirmed that West had no emergency lights or sirens activated during the stop, raising questions about whether he was truly on duty or using official status to avoid consequences.
The encounter escalated further when West brought up the concept of "professional courtesy"—a controversial practice among some law enforcement officers who expect leniency from fellow officers. The officer did not hold back in his response.
“Well, just as ‘professional’ and ‘courtesy,’ you’re as big of a jerk as I heard you are,” he said. “Have a better day.”
West later downplayed the situation, stating he was pulled over and issued a warning and that the bodycam footage “spoke for itself.”
The incident has stirred renewed scrutiny of Sheriff West, a longtime figure in Oklahoma law enforcement who served nearly 30 years with the Department of Public Safety before retiring from the Highway Patrol in 2012. He was elected Canadian County Sheriff in 2016 and led the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association from 2021 to 2022.
West has made national headlines before. He attended the January 6 rally at the U.S. Capitol, saying he went as a private citizen and did not participate in the violence. He also proposed creating a controversial civilian “Sheriff’s Posse” to rapidly respond to threats against life and property.
Just days before the traffic stop, on April 28, West appeared at the White House with sheriffs from across the country in support of a law enforcement-focused executive order.
The identity of the Oklahoma City police officer involved in the stop has not been released.
Comentários