REPRINTED FROM: The Chickasaw Times
   Writing a college term paper is the biggest responsibility facing most young people during their first four years after high school graudation.
   Jason O'Neal's responsibilities included making sure there were no exsplosives in the areas the U.S. president may be visiting.
   O'Neal graudated from Ada (OK) High School in 1994, and began his law enforcement career in 1995 as a military police canine handler in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his four years in the Marines, one of his duties was to work with the U.S. Secret Service to ensure the safey of the president and other dignitaries visiting the area.
   In those four years he also served as a police officer and police supervisor.
   He then served six years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs office of law enforcement services in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Oklahoma as a federal police officer and police supervisor.
   In 2004, the 28-year-old O'Neal took on the daunting task of building a new police department - the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police - from the ground up.
   "Jason is doing a tremendous job as Chief of the Lighthorse Police Department," said Governor Bill Anoatubby. "From the first day on the job he has proven he has what it takes to be successful in this very demanding job."
   When O'Neal was hired as chief of the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, he already had a vision of the type of department he wanted to oversee.
   He wanted the new department to provide the highest quality professional law enforcement service to the public and support the tribal mission of enhancing the quality of life for the Chickasaw people.
   While building the program, O'Neal took what he considered the best of the BIA policies and procedures and best of top police department training to creat LPD training standards.
   Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director Darrell Weaver gives credit to O'Neal for successfully meeting his goal during a recent interview about cooperative efforts between the two agencies.
   "There is probably no police agenct in the state of Oklahoma, bar none, that is better run than this group of Lighthorse Policeman," said Weaver.
   O'Neal also wanted to ensure the officers had enough time for continuing training and education. As a result, officers attend training sessions twice annually and must qualify to carry their firearms.
   The hiring requirements to become a Lighthorse officer are some of the most stringent in the state.
   Applicants are given a physical, written and drug test, along with a thorough background investigation.
   "We conduct our own background checks," said O'Neal.
   Potential LPD officers must also be capable and competent drivers with good driving records, and must possess a valid state driver's license.
   "They must be high school graduates of have a GED and they must also have and maintain clean records, with no convictions for felonies or qualifying misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence which would prohibit receipt or possession of firearms or ammunition," O'Neal said. "They must also be able to obtain First Responders CPR/First Aid Certification and maintain a Bureau of Indian Affairs commission."
   O'Neal said a person's character is a primary consideration in the selection process.
   Once selected, the applicant is required to complete a 16-week basic police officer academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, N.M. Once the officers graduate from the academy, they are supervised by a senior officer for several weeks.
   O'Neal believes officers should be provided the tools and equipment to enable them to do their job more efficiently.
   "We want to maximize our manpower and assets," O'Neal said.
   The department initially assumed the rold of the Bureau of Indian Affairs police department, which, at the time, consisted of four officers who covered more than 7,648 square miles within the Chickasaw Nation.
   Now, four years later, the department has grown to include 30 employees. Sixteen are uniformed officers, sever are dispatchers, three investigators, two captains, an administrative assistant, and an assistant chief.
   The department provides 24-hour dispatch, and includes highly specialized teams including a Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) team, an investigations unit and a dive team.
   Lighthorse Police headquarters are located at 1130 West Main in Ada, Oklahoma.

(( originall contributed to the Chickasaw Times by Dana Hudspeth, tribal media relations ))