12-14-04 - Tulsa police captain Gary Rudick will take over Durant's police department at the end of January. On Tuesday, the 26-year law enforcement veteran says he's looking forward to getting started. The city introduced Rudick during a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

In a news release, City Manager Paul Buntz said “I am pleased to announce that Gary Rudick has been appointed as the new Police Chief for the City of Durant. Although Mr. Rudick will not officially assume his duties until January 31, 2005, he will be in Durant several times between now and then meeting with members of the Durant Police Department, the Durant City Council and the community. Chief Rudick has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and currently serves as a Patrol Shift Commander supervising 51 subordinates. He also has served as Internal Affairs Investigator, Criminal Investigator/Supervisor, Administrative Sergeant, and Instructor at the Tulsa Police Training Academy.

“The appointment of Chief Rudick was the culmination of an extensive nationwide search, which resulted in the City of Durant receiving over 80 resumes for the position from all over the country. A Police Chief Search Committee was appointed to assist the City Manager in the selection process. Serving on the committee were Ken Rainbolt, Municipal Judge, Cathy Conway, Human Resources Director for Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Mike Ridgway, Owner of Durant Lumber Company, John Hoefer, local insurance agent, Jerry Thomason, retired FBI agent, Jim Richardson, Community Development and Administrative Services Director for the City of Durant, and myself. The panel took a hands-on attitude and spent many hours reviewing qualifications and selecting the candidates to be interviewed. The panel also questioned each candidate and made recommendation to the City Manager for selection of chief. A very strong consensus was that Chief Rudick was the best qualified for the position.
“I want to thank the Police Chief Selection Panel for their willingness to take time from their busy schedules to assist me in the selection process. They really were very helpful and did an outstanding job of assisting me,” said City Manager Paul Buntz. “I also believe that Chief Rudick has the qualifications to be an outstanding chief as the City continues to grow and face new challenges in the future.”