Carter County was well represented in a crowd that spilled out into the hallway of the State Capitol Blue Room as one of its own was honored.
Gov. Kevin Stitt presented Ratliff City Police Chief Robert Thornton with the Oklahoma Distinguished Meritorious Service Award during the Oklahoma State Awards Ceremony for the Department of Public Safety Wednesday. Thornton was one of five honored during a ceremony that recognized extraordinary acts of valor. Secretary of Public Safety Tricia Everest and Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton also took part in the event.
Thornton has been in law enforcement for 38 years and been the chief in Ratliff City for 20 years. He said the award was a recognition of not only himself but of small communities in the state.
“You always hear about Oklahoma City, about state agencies, about Tulsa, major metropolitan areas,” Thornton said. “Yet, your smaller communities, Ratliff City, podunk Oklahoma, their people are doing it with heart all the time. And they are doing it without getting paid. They are taking off from their jobs and they go and do what they know how to do to support their communities and their state.
“And this is a great recognition, not only personally for me but for the small communities and smaller agencies.”
Stitt said he was honored to celebrate the selfless courage and extraordinary sacrifices made by heroes who keep our communities safe throughout the state. He pointed out they answer calls that can change in an instant from routine to life-threatening.
“It is in those memories of uncertainty and chaos that their true character shines through,” Stitt said. “I believe God placed them here for that purpose. To act as his hand as the Lord chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And I am so excited to honor the great Oklahomans who have done just that.”
State Rep. Tammy Townley said the application was received over a year ago. The application process had to go through three different committee reviews which included a final review from Gov. Stitt’s team.
“We thought he was a shoo-in and apparently everyone else did too, which is great” Townley said. “He has done so many wonderful things for our area. He helped coordinate a lot of the tactical response teams for our schools and our local areas. He has been on the front lines, and he was a forerunner.”
Townley said Thornton has been a heart and hand for Jesus. When natural disasters struck the area, he was on the ground helping coordinate, not just for Ratliff City and the county, but neighboring counties as well.
“He is just truly a hero for our area, and he is so deserving of this award,” Townley said.
Thornton said people have been the biggest driving factor in his career. There is honor in the job and the government needs to work for the people. It should support the people, recognize them and be one with its people.
“And that we need to help our people, we need to be there to support and protect them,” he said.
Waynoka Chief Lonnie Leroy Butler and firefighter Taylor Wade Bradford were posthumously awarded the Oklahoma Red Heart, which is limited to municipal firefighters employed by cities and towns. Butler and Bradford perished in a fire with two trapped individuals during a rescue attempt on Jan. 29, 2021.
Oklahoma County Sheriff Mark Johns and Sgt. Blaine “Bobby” Swartz (posthumous) received the Oklahoma Medal of Valor for meritorious service and the Blue Heart award. The Blue Heart is limited to law enforcement and public safety members. The two were shot while serving an eviction notice on Aug. 22, 2022.
Townley said Deputy Melody Norton, a Plainview graduate, was also involved in the gunfight and escaped injury when she was pulled to safety under gunfire.
Thornton said he was honored to receive the award, but it was nothing like the men who also received awards during the ceremony.
“I have gotten to do my job, and my family has been there for me the whole time,” he said. “And thank God, I have not had to give the supreme sacrifice. I am definitely humbled to be included with a group of people that I was included in with.”
