Sheriff Lester

Undersheriff Rhett Burnett

Public Information Officer

 

                In 2009, Sheriff Joe Lester chose Rhett Burnett to be the new Undersheriff of Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.  Undersheriff Burnett has been a law enforcement officer for over 27 years.  Rhett began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force where he served as a Security Policeman & Security Specialist during the Regan years.  Due to special training he received, he was assigned additional duties in protection of US resources in numerous locations across England, Germany, and other remote sites.   He is a decorated U.S. Veteran and counts these years of service to our country as one of his proudest accomplishments.  Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, Rhett returned to his native Oklahoma and became an Oklahoma law enforcement officer.  Rhett accepted employment at the University of Oklahoma Police where he spent 9 years working his way up from Patrol Officer to Supervisor & then Detective.  Due to his investigative skills and reputation, Rhett was offered employment with the 21st District Attorney’s Office in 1997 as a Criminal Investigator for the State of Oklahoma.  Rhett became the primary investigator for the District Attorney’s offices in McClain & Garvin counties, working an extensive caseload of Narcotics, Child Sexual Abuse/Child Abuse, Violent Crimes and Sex Offenses.  Rhett was chosen to join the U.S. Marshal’s Metro Fugitive Squad which focused on targeting serious and violent offenders with active warrants.  He was an active member of the team and focused on offenders in his Judicial District until 2004.  While working in McClain & Garvin counties, Rhett was asked to participate in a new program that was forming in those counties called “Drug Court”, and was on the ground floor of this concept that has swept the state & the nation.  Rhett’s involvement with Drug Court followed him to Cleveland County District Attorney’s office when he was reassigned there in 2000.  Rhett continued to work his major caseload and specialize in the investigation & prosecution of crimes against children and sex offenses.  Rhett created the “SOAP” program for the District Attorney’s office that dealt with sex offenders who were failing to register on the state database & coordinated efforts with the many local law enforcement agencies in the 21st Judicial District.

Rhett has been recognized by his peers and the community for years as a passionate protector of children and as an outstanding criminal investigator.  Rhett was the recipient of the Cleveland County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2002.  He was recognized by the Mary Abbott Children’s House in 2008 for his work and commitment to protecting children with the Wayne Martin Memorial Award which was voted on by his peers and co-workers in the Investigative field.  Rhett was recruited by DHS to be a trainer for their personnel regarding safety in the field, workplace violence and other areas of law enforcement concern.  Rhett and his wife started Courage of Grace Ministries in 2006 in memory of his daughter Kraleigh Grace who battled Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer.  The ministry is designed to help children suffering from chronic & life threatening disease.  Within the last 2 years, Rhett felt that he was being called into ministry, and is now the Pastor of a growing church called "REVIVE" located in Tecumseh, OK.  Undersheriff Burnett wants to provide professional law enforcement services to every citizen of Cleveland County and make a lasting positive impact on the lives of people in the areas he lives and works.