Craig Akard

Profile: Craig Akard Title: Chief of Police, City of Lawton (Effective May 2026) Total Public Service: 41 Years Background: Law Enforcement Operations, Municipal Administration, and Human Resources

Professional Overview Craig Akard is a veteran law enforcement professional and municipal leader with over four decades of experience serving the City of Lawton. Appointed as Chief of Police in May 2026, Akard’s career is unique for its “full-circle” trajectory: rising through the police ranks, moving into executive city administration (HR), and returning to lead the department. Career Evolution Chief of Police (Lawton): Appointed May 11, 2026, by City Manager John Ratliff.Human Resources Director (Lawton): Managed personnel systems, labor relations, and policy for all city departments. This role provided him with a comprehensive view of the city’s administrative and legal safeguards.Lawton Police Department (31+ Years):Captain, Patrol Operations & Criminal Investigations: Led major investigative functions and critical incident response.Rose through the ranks: Occupied nearly every operational tier within the LPD over three decades.Lawton Fire Department: Served in an administrative capacity following his initial law enforcement tenure. Education & Professional Development FBI National Academy: Graduate of Class 263 (an elite designation for the top 1% of law enforcement leaders).Cameron University: Associate of Applied Science (AAS, 1984).Specialization: Certified in ethical leadership, mentorship, and municipal personnel management. Leadership Philosophy & Mandate Akard’s appointment came with a specific mandate from the Ratliff administration to focus on: Transparency: Bridging the communication gap between LPD and the public.Community Partnership: Strengthening citizen-officer bonds.Organizational Integrity: Reinforcing core values in a challenging modern policing environment. “The pride I feel in being a police officer has never wavered… I am honored to lead this department and serve alongside the dedicated men and women who protect Lawton.” — Chief Craig Akard Civic Context & Notes Institutional Memory: With 41 years of experience, Akard possesses more “institutional memory” than almost any other sitting city official.Administrative Verticality: His transition from HR Director to Police Chief is a significant “node” in Lawton’s power structure. As the former HR head, he possesses intimate knowledge of departmental discipline, personnel records, and labor contracts—knowledge he now carries into the Chief’s office.Ratliff Alignment: His appointment is viewed by municipal observers as a move toward a centralized, administration-aligned leadership style within the department.