Chief of Police

Jess Wilson

jess@kiowapolice.com

918-432-5564

Where is the Police Department located?
The Kiowa Police Department is located at 813 Harrison Street Kiowa, Oklahoma 74553.
 

What number do I call for non emergency reports?
Non emergency reports can often be made over the phone by calling 918-432-5564. 

Where can I get a copy of a report?
Reports can be obtained at the Police Department. There may be minimal fees involved for obtaining reports.
 

What if my car was impounded?
Impounded vehicles are released by the Police Department from 8am to 6pm 7 days a week.  There is a $100.00 impound release fee required in addition to wrecker service fees. Click this link to see what's required.>IMPOUND RELEASE INFO<

Where do I go to pay a ticket?
Tickets and citations can be paid in person or by mail at City Hall.  It is located at 813 Harrison Street Kiowa, Oklahoma 74553.

How do I pay a ticket?  >CLICK THIS LINK FOR INFO ON HOW TO PAY TICKET<
 

Where is the jail located?
All offenders arrested by the Kiowa Police Department are jailed at the Pittsburg County Jail in McAlester, Oklahoma.
 

Does the police department mail out free police patches upon request?
While we appreciate the interest and support, the police department is no longer able to provide police patches due to security concerns.
 

What should I do if I’m pulled over by the Kiowa Police?
It’s understandable that some people are not sure how to respond when being pulled over by a police officer on a traffic stop. Traffic enforcement is one method utilized to reduce vehicle accidents, injuries, and property damage on our streets. Traffic stops are also conducted in the course of investigating crimes. It may be helpful to understand why officers must take certain safety precautions when making traffic stops.

Officer safety is very important on traffic stops. A person being pulled over by the police should be aware the officer is participating in a potentially dangerous part of police work. In the annual report by the FBI on officers killed in the line of duty, traffic stops are always in the top three incidents (along with felonies in progress and domestic disputes). Therefore, we have to train officers to be especially careful and cautious during all traffic stops. For a patrol officer, there is no “routine” traffic stop.

With those potential dangers in mind, let’s “walk through” a typical traffic stop and review some common occurrences. When you first see the red and blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror, the officer could be trying to pull you over or just pass you en route to an emergency call. You should use your signal and change lanes to the right, coming to a stop as safely as possible. If the officer is stopping you, the officer will pull in behind you. If the traffic stop is at night, the officer will use spotlights to light up the interior of your vehicle for safety reasons. You and all occupants of your vehicle should avoid getting out of the car, unless directed otherwise by the officer. The officer will approach your car while trying to stay out of passing traffic. Officers appreciate drivers who turn off their car radio; it makes the officer’s job of communicating with you a little easier.

Officer safety training calls for the officer to watch the hands of all occupants. This is done so an officer is aware of the actions a person takes inside the vehicle. Keep in mind that the officer rarely knows anything about the person he or she is pulling over, so staying calm and keeping your hands where the officer can see them is appreciated.

Depending on the circumstances, the police officer will often first ask to see your driver’s license and proof of insurance. (On a related note, you do not have to carry your vehicle registration with you in Oklahoma. It is also a good idea to get rid of all of those expired insurance verification forms, they are of no value anymore and just keep you detained on the traffic stop longer as you have to thumb through them.) Once these essential preliminaries are taken care of, the officer will generally advise you of the reason for the stop. If you have a factual response to the reason for the stop mentioned by the officer, you can mention it to the officer.

The officer will then return to their patrol car to run some computer checks. Please stay in your vehicle during the traffic stop, unless the officer requests otherwise. Sometimes these checks are fairly quick, while other times the officer has to wait in line and it takes a bit longer. After running these checks, the officer will determine what if any enforcement action is appropriate. The officer will then return to your vehicle and discuss the situation with the driver. If a citation is issued, the officer will ask you to sign it. Traffic citations are not pronouncements of guilt.

By signing the citation, you are not admitting any guilt. The suspected traffic violator will sometimes disagree with the officer's observation. Because everyone is entitled to due process, the proper forum to dispute the merits of a traffic citation is before a municipal court judge. Whatever the outcome, the officer generally wants you to be back on your way in a timely manner. It’s always a good idea to carefully pull back out into traffic after the stop.

Police officers realize that some people don’t necessarily enjoy being stopped by the police. We hope this information will be beneficial and provide some context to why certain things occur. Traffic stops can be a relatively positive encounter, especially if they result in safer driving in our community. The next time you see a Kiowa Police Officer making a traffic stop, know that the officer is working to keep our streets safe for you and your family.