John George (Oklahoma politician)
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John George | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 36th district | |
| Assumed office November 16, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sean Roberts |
| Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police President | |
| In office 2012–2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | East Central University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Oklahoma National Guard |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
John George is an American politician who has served as the Oklahoma House of Representatives member from the 36th district since November 16, 2022.
George earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from East Central University.[1]
Career
George served five years in the Oklahoma National Guard and reached the rank of second lieutenant before joining the Oklahoma City Police Department in 1991 as a detective.[1][2]
In 2012 he was elected to serve as the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge 123) president.[1] As president of the Fraternal Order of Police, he supported Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley when Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City called for his resignation in 2020.[3] He dismissed criticisms the FOP unfairly defended officers, arguing that officers paid dues for legal defense from the union.[4] He publicly clashed with Oklahoma city councilwoman Jobeth Harmon after she shared a post from Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City labeling police killings of African-Americans as terrorism and comparing it to the Oklahoma City bombing. George described the comments as a "false narrative because we don't have this epidemic of police officers murdering innocent black men in this country."[5] On November 23, 2020 five Oklahoma City Police Department officers shot and killed 15-year-old Stavian Rodriguez after he had allegedly assisted 17-year-old Wyatt Cheatham in robbing a gas station.[6] In March 2021, the officers were charged in Oklahoma County.[7] George defended the officer's conduct saying "a loss of life is always a tragedy and we know these officers did not take firing their weapons lightly. The OKC FOP stands by these officers and maintains they acted within the law."[8] He served in that position until he resigned in 2022.[1] The charges against those five officer's where dropped in July 2023 by prosecutor Vicki Behenna.[9]