In this edition of Meet Your Officers, we shine the spotlight on Lieutenant Zachary Medlock, a dedicated member of the Okmulgee Police Department. Having served the community since March 2017, Lieutenant Medlock was recently promoted to his current position in March 2024, after just over sev- en years on the force. His journey to law enforcement is a compelling one, filled with unexpected twists, personal growth and a deep-seated desire to make a difference in his hometown.

— The Path to Policing

Unlike many who know from an early age they want to be in law enforcement, Lieutenant Medlock had initially pursued a different path. “In high school, the idea kinda popped up, but I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do,” he recalls. Instead of heading straight into the police force, Medlock pursued a degree in architectural drafting and engineering.

“I did that until my internship,” he says, but soon realized that sitting in front of a computer every day wasn’t fulfilling him. It was then that he saw a job post from the Okmulgee Police Department on Facebook and felt a nudge to try something new.

“I didn’t really like what I was doing, so I figured I’d give it a shot. It’s always kinda been in the back of my mind,” Medlock explains.

That decision changed the course of his life. After submitting his application, Medlock entered what he described as a “pretty crazy” hiring process. “It was a long process, of course, like three or four months from the time I put in my application to actually getting hired,” he says. During that time, he completed a physical agility test, the MMPI (a psychological assessment similar to the Myers-Briggs test), a pension physical, an interview, and even a polygraph exam. “The polygraph was definitely an experience,” Medlock laughs, reflecting on the intense process. But it all paid off when he officially joined the force in March 2017.

— Becoming a Leader

Medlock’s journey through the ranks has been swift. “I got promoted to sergeant in January of this year, and then to lieutenant in March,” he shares. Though the transition to a leadership role came quickly, Medlock has embraced the challenges that come with it. “Before, I just had to worry about myself and my calls. Now, I’m responsible for other people – their work life, their personal life, making sure they’re okay and not dealing with issues that could affect them on the job,” he says.

One of the most significant responsibilities of his role is ensuring the safety of his team. “The biggest mental part of it is making sure all my guys make it home,” he says, the weight of that responsibility evident in his voice. “Before, I just had to worry about me. Now, I’m the one sending somebody into a house or down a dark alleyway. If something happens, that’s on me.” Medlock takes this responsibility seriously, and he’s keenly aware that his decisions could be life-changing for the officers under his command.

As a leader, Medlock also recognizes the importance of understanding his team’s strengths and deploying them strategically. “I’ve got a guy that’s my size, and then we’ve got a little guy who’s real quick and in good shape. If there’s a situation where someone’s barricaded in a house, I put the bigger guy at the front in case there’s confrontation and the smaller guy in the back in case someone runs,” he explains. This kind of thoughtful planning is essential in his role, and Medlock credits his love for teamwork—developed from his days playing basketball in high school – with helping him succeed in a collaborative environment.

— Life Outside the Badge

While law enforcement consumes much of his time, Medlock is also a family man. Recently, he and his wife welcomed a baby, an experience that has brought joy and fulfillment into his personal life. “It’s been great, just enjoying being a dad,” he shares. Outside of family life, Medlock enjoys watching movies and shooting guns, though he admits that finding time for hobbies has been difficult lately. “I used to go to the range more often, but it’s hard to find the time now.”

When asked if he has a favorite spot in the community, Medlock mentions that he doesn’t have a specific place but enjoys catching up with old friends. “A couple of my buddies from the department have since moved up to Tulsa PD, so we’ll link up and go out, whether it’s here or in Tulsa,” he says.

— Serving the Okmulgee Community

Though his night shift schedule limits his ability to participate in community projects, Medlock has fond memories of the initiatives he was involved in during his earlier years on the day shift. “We used to do things like play basketball with kids at school or land a helicopter at one of the local churches for a community event,” he recalls. “It’s been a few years since some of those events happened, but they were always fun.”

Even without as many community engagements, Medlock finds meaning in his work on night shifts. “I would hope that us being out here and trying to get people off the streets who could potentially commit further crimes is bettering the community,” he says. While his role may not always be visible to the public, the impact of his work is profound.

For Medlock, Okmulgee is more than just a place to work – it’s home. “I always grew up around here. Whenever we needed to go to Walmart or something, we’d come to this town. It just feels like home,” he shares. This deep-rooted connection to Okmulgee is why he’s stayed, even when friends have urged him to consider opportunities in larger cities like Tulsa. “They make more money up there, but at the end of the day, it’s not home. I’d rather deal with Okmulgee traffic than Tulsa traffic any day.”

— Words to Live by

Medlock carries with him a philosophy that has guided him throughout his career. In high school, he came across a quote by Edmund Burke that resonated with him: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He remembers vividly the moment he realized the police department had that very quote displayed in its training room. “The day I got hired, I came down here to get my equipment, and I saw it on a banner in the hallway. It was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool,’” he recalls with a smile.

As for advice to the next generation of officers or even to his younger self, Medlock keeps it simple: “Be prepared for anything. This job can be the best job in the world, and it can also be the worst. It’s a huge culture shock when you first come in, but you just have to stay positive and deal with things as they come.”

Lieutenant Zachary Medlock is committed to his role and his community and to the dedication of the Okmulgee Police Department. His journey into law enforcement may have been unexpected, but it’s clear that it was the right path for him.