McAlester Police Department Recovering After Several Losses

The McAlester Police Department is reeling after the loss of a captain, an officer, and a former chief.

While the department is mourning, it is also understaffed with officers retiring.

Chief Kevin Hearod said the department has been overwhelmed with support.

People have been sending hundreds of cards, letters, along with books and keepsakes while the department is still trying to process several losses.

"The month of March was the toughest month I'd ever seen," said Hearod.

Hearod looks back on a month of mourning for his department.

On March 16, before funeral services for former chief Dale Nave, Capt. Richard Parker suddenly died.

“We had officers that were there, we had officers that was at Richard’s house, we had people coming in on their days off to go to one or the other,” said Hearod.

The next day, while escorting the body of Capt. Parker, Officer Joseph Barlow was hit when a driver crossed the median near Glenpool.

Master Patrolman Chris Skinner was part of the escort and was with Barlow before the crash.

“How do we make this stop?” Skinner asked. “You can’t predict the unpredictable. Every one of them come as a shock.”

Barlow died a few days later.

“We have a huge void that needs to be filled, and we need people like Joseph Barlow to answer the call,” said Skinner. “If we can take 10 more guys like that, we wouldn’t fill the burden that we have."

In addition to sudden losses, two officers recently retired, even a K-9 officer, and two left for another agency.

Hearod said fully staffed would mean 45 officers, but the department is down to 36, even with recent hires.

The chief said for now, the officers have been using counseling services and are focused on supporting each other.

"We've come through the hard part,” said Hearod. “Now, it's just the healing, check and making sure the guys check on one another."

The chief said the cards and keepsakes the department receives will continue going to the late officers' families while a few items will go on display at the office.