Was To Be Named Officer of Year
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A veteran Oklahoma City police inspector due to be given a police officer of the year award in January, killed himself Wednesday morning inside the police department.
Gerald “Butch” McKenna used a handgun to shoot himself just before 5 a.m. while at his desk, said Capt. Jeffrey Becker.
“He used a revolver,” Becker said. “We are still investigating if that was the one assigned to him with the department.”
McKenna’s body was found by a co-worker, but Becker said he does not know if the co-worker was another officer or a member of the department’s support staff.
McKenna was a 24-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department and had worked in the sex crimes unit the past 15 years, Becker said.
There were 30 to 40 people in the building in downtown Oklahoma City at the time of the shooting, but Becker said he does not know if anyone heard the gunshot.
No motive was immediately known, Becker said.
“It’s very upsettling to the co-workers and our police chaplain and our peer support team is talking to some of his co-workers,” he said.
“We’re just trying to be very supportive of each other at this point.”
McKenna and Det. Daniel Sheehan were recently selected police officers of the year by the Kiwanis Club in Oklahoma City.
“They were going to receive the award next month for their work in helping to solve a serial rapist case,” Becker said.