TOM V. HEGGY

Tom L.V. Heggy was born in Stafford, Kansas, served in the US Army before joining the Oklahoma City Police Department in 1960. Heggy served in Patrol, Vice, Records, and in OCPD's first criminal intelligence unit. He rose thru the ranks to command of the Detective Division and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Heggy was named chief of police in January 1977 and served in that position until his retirement from the Oklahoma City Police Department in 1982. Chief Heggy promoted education and technology throughout his career. He advocated college degrees and partnered with OSU to accredit the Police Training Center. Heggy promoted specialization, creating a Sex Crimes Unit, Assault Unit, and Crime Analysis Unit. Technical Investigators were trained by Scotland Yard resulting in a blood stain/pattern expert being recognized by the local courts. He expanded police facilities, merged dispatch for Police and Fire and introduced computer-aided dispatching.

In 1982 Governor Nigh named Heggy interim director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics, and in 1984 he was named the agency's Director. Heggy held five degrees and had a passion for teaching. He taught at FBI schools and state colleges and was instrumental in developing Oklahoma City University's Criminal Justice education curriculum and served as OCU's Dean of Students 1988–2002. He was a guest lecturer throughout the world and the recipient of numerous awards. Tom Heggy died in August 18, 2011, at the age of 80. Heggy is posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame with the award presented to his children Rodney Heggy, Jon Heggy, and Katrina Nash.

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