Director of Law Enforcement

Job Posting Title

Director of Law Enforcement

Agency

353 OKLA. HORSE RACING COMM.

Supervisory Organization

Horse Racing Commission

Job Posting End Date

Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above.

Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank)

Full/Part-Time

Full time

Job Type

Regular

Compensation

Job Description

Director of Law Enforcement — Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission

Definition

Under the administrative direction of the Executive Director, the Director of Law Enforcement serves as the agency’s senior‑most law enforcement official, responsible for planning, directing, and supervising all enforcement operations that safeguard the integrity of horse racing and racetrack gaming in the State of Oklahoma. This position oversees OHRC Law Enforcement Agents, designs investigative and compliance strategies, ensures regulatory adherence to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act, Rules of Racing, and Rules for Racetrack Gaming, and maintains strong interagency partnerships for criminal, administrative, and regulatory enforcement matters.

This is a leadership position requiring independent judgment, high technical competence, and demonstrated expertise in criminal investigations, regulatory enforcement, and supervisory practices.

Examples of Work Performed

The Director of Law Enforcement:

Investigations & Enforcement Operations

• Administers, directs, and supervises complex investigations relating to violations of the Rules of Racing, statutes governing horse racing and gaming, prohibited practices, illegal wagering, race manipulation, and criminal activity occurring on or affecting racetrack property.
• Oversees investigations of illegal horse racing operations statewide and ensures coordinated response with local, state, and federal entities.
• Ensures proper execution of searches, seizures, evidence handling, witness interviews, suspect interrogations, and preparation of investigative reports in compliance with state laws, agency policies, and evidentiary standards.
• Oversees major incidents including equine fatalities, serious injuries, race‑day integrity threats, gaming fraud, and criminal activity as outlined in the Significant Incident Notification Procedure.
• Provides direction and oversight during undercover investigations and interagency criminal operations.

Regulatory Compliance & Integrity Protection

• Implements and enforces the Rules of Racing (Title 325 Oklahoma Administrative Code) governing racing personnel, veterinarians, stewards, track operations, equine welfare, testing procedures, and wagering integrity.
• Oversees casino gaming enforcement at racetrack gaming facilities to ensure compliance with the Rules of Racetrack Gaming, including machine testing, logic‑area access monitoring, surveillance compliance, seal verification, and fraud detection.
• Ensures timely and accurate review of licensing background investigations for all occupational licensees.
• Leads enforcement actions relating to prohibited devices, tampering, contraband, and rule violations involving licensees.

Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities

• Plans, assigns, and evaluates the work of OHRC Law Enforcement Agents, including training, performance evaluations, disciplinary recommendations, and professional development.
• Issues directives, operational guidance, and investigative standards to field personnel.
• Ensures all agents comply with OHRC Personnel Manual requirements, including ethics, wagering prohibitions, communications protocols, and conduct expectations.

Interagency Coordination

• Maintains strong working relationships with local police, sheriff’s offices, tribal law enforcement, state agencies (e.g., DPS, AG’s Office), and federal partners as investigations require.
• Represents the OHRC at interagency meetings, task forces, conferences, Racing Integrity Roundtables, and collaborative enforcement initiatives (e.g., Invitation – Racing Integrity Roundtable Participation & RSVP Required).

Operational Management & Reporting

• Oversees law enforcement modernization efforts and digitization of records aligned with agency initiatives (open records portal, fatality tracking, RMS transition) as reflected in modernization planning discussions. Ensures compliance with mandatory equine fatality reporting, integrity safeguards, and administrative inspection requirements.
• Provides comprehensive investigative summaries and prosecution packets to the Executive Director, General Counsel, District Attorneys, and other appropriate authorities.
• Testifies in administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to OHRC policies governing communications with Commissioners.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Competencies

The Director of Law Enforcement must possess extensive knowledge of:

• State and federal laws relating to horse racing, gaming, criminal investigations, and administrative enforcement.
• Rules of Racing and racetrack‑gaming regulatory structures (Title 325 OAC).
• Investigative principles, evidence handling, surveillance operations, undercover work, and case‑file management.
• Equine welfare, racing procedures, prohibited practices, drug testing processes, and racetrack operational standards.
• Law enforcement records systems, digital reporting standards, and information‑security protocols.
• Supervisory practices, personnel management, training development, and organizational leadership.

Key abilities include:

• Directing complex, multi‑jurisdictional investigations.
• Interpreting and applying racing rules, gaming regulations, and statutory authority.
• Communicating clearly and professionally with licensees, staff, Commissioners, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners.
• Preparing comprehensive investigative reports suitable for administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings.
• Exercising discretion, sound judgment, tact, and integrity in all enforcement actions.
• Managing simultaneous investigations and agency priorities effectively.
• Leading and mentoring enforcement staff, and building a high‑performance enforcement division.

Education and Experience

Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, police science, behavioral science, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of six years of law enforcement experience, with at least four years in criminal or regulatory investigations—or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CLEET Peace Officer Certification required at appointment (consistent with Agent I and OHRC requirements)
• Demonstrated supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in racing, gaming enforcement, or equine‑industry investigations preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must pass a full background investigation (OSBI, FBI, ARCI).
• Must have no felony convictions or disqualifying misdemeanors related to gambling, domestic violence, or moral turpitude (consistent with OHRC enforcement standards).
• Must comply with all OHRC prohibitions concerning wagering, horse ownership, and gaming participation
• Must be willing to work irregular hours, including race‑day events, emergencies, and overnight investigations.
• Must be able to travel statewide as required.

Level Descriptor

This is the leadership level of the OHRC’s enforcement job family. The Director exercises broad administrative authority and is accountable for overall enforcement planning, interagency coordination, investigative integrity, division efficiency, staff performance, and public‑facing credibility of the Commission’s regulatory mission. The Director operates with significant independence, following agency rules, statutory authority, and direction from the Executive Director.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.

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