A longtime Ardmore police officer will step across the street on Sept. 1 to assume the second-in-command role at the Carter County Sheriff’s Department, and an eight-year CCSD veteran has been promoted to the rank of captain.
Sheriff Ken Grace said he has selected Milton Anthony as undersheriff and promoted Gregg Johnson to the rank of captain.
Grace who served as former sheriff Harvey Burkhart’s undersheriff, was appointed to the lead law enforcement position in the county in January following Burkhart’s death in December 2007.
He served out the remainder of Burkhart’s term and then sought and won the post for himself at the polls on July 29.
Since January, the undersheriff’s position has remained vacant. Friday, Grace spoke with the Daily Ardmoreite about his decision to place Anthony in the slot.
“I felt it was time to appoint an undersheriff and, with Milton retiring after 28 years of service to the city and the citizens of Ardmore, I felt he would be an asset to the Carter County Sheriff’s Department,” Grace said.
The sheriff said Anthony’s duties would include assisting him in the operations of the department and stepping into the lead role when he is unavailable.
“I’m going to be more active at the state Capitol. I intend to speak my mind on issues before the Legislature. Sheriffs need to take a stand on pending legislation,” Grace said.
Anthony said he was looking forward to taking on his new duties as undersheriff.
“I’ve worked with the sheriff’s department and many of the deputies for years. I’m excited about joining the department and working with Ken and his staff. The sheriff’s department is a very professional agency and I hope to contribute to that,” Anthony said.
The sheriff said he promoted Johnson to the rank of captain effective Aug. 15.
“Gregg will be over the field deputies and all investigations, including narcotics, and patrol assignments. He has many years of experience and has helped in the operations of the CCSD.
He’s done very, very well,” Grace said. “Gregg is very capable and very dedicated. I’m expecting great things from him.”
Johnson said he was pleased with his new rank and his new assignment.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “We have some of the best deputies in the state. We’re going to continue down the road we’ve been on for the past eight years and also go in some new directions. Our focus is going to be on investigations and we are ready to assist any law enforcement agency in the area with equipment and/or manpower when needed.
“We also continue to encourage citizens to be alert and report any suspicious activity to us. We are going to continue to follow up on all tips from citizens, including all information concerning drug activity, and we will be working closely with other drug enforcement agencies.”
The Carter County Sheriff’s Department can be contacted by calling (580) 223-6014.
Anthony’s credentials
Milton Anthony steps into the role of Carter County undersheriff with 28 years of law enforcement experience including:
n Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training Certification.
n Ardmore Police Department — 1980 -84.
n Lone Grove Police Department — 1984-85.
n Ardmore Police Department — 1985-August 2008.
n Anthony served as a patrol officer from 1985-91.
n Assisted in establishing the Individually Assigned Vehicle program and acted as APD fleet supervisor.
n Served as special events coordinator.
n Promoted to sergeant in 1991, managing animal control and working with Ardmore Animal Care, assisted in implementing some animal control ordinances for the City of Ardmore.
n Served as assistant to the chief and interim captain on several occasions.
n Named APD Officer of the Year in 1996.
n Mental Health of Southern Oklahoma Award for commitment and support of mental health in the community — 1996 and 1997.
n Served in Criminal Investigation Division four years.
n Shift supervisor Patrol Division five years.
n Graduated from Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute in police supervision in 2001.
n Obtained Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate in 2002.
n Obtained numerous other certifications on police procedures.
