Three new police officers will be seen on the streets as they patrol, and protect and serve the citizens of Newcastle.
Police Chief Gary Norman said he has hired Virginia Bailey, Corey Harwell, and Jared Slentz.
The officers are currently in a twomonth mini academy being trained on all things Newcastle, and then they’ll go to a full police academy at Moore-Norman Vocational Technical Center, according to Norman.
OFFICER VIRGINIA BAILEY
Bailey was hired November 9, 2022. She is the mother to three children: Zavion, 12; Madeline, 4; and Rubi, 11-months. She said she has been with her boyfriend, Zack, for two years, and he is her biggest support system.
Bailey was graduated from high school in 2014, and moved to Hawaii shortly after. She remained in Hawaii for three years while she graduated with an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice.
In 2018, she moved back to Oklahoma where she said she was determined to become a police officer. Because she was pregnant with her first daughter, she became a Communications Specialist instead.
“I received my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, and then went to work for the Ardmore Police Department before moving to Oklahoma City and getting a job at the Newastle Police Department as a Communications Specialist.
At about the same time, Bailey decided to go back to school and earn a Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security. She said she will complete this degree in December 2023.
“I absolutely love it in Newcastle,” Bailey said. “From day one in the dispatch center I knew this is where I was meant to be. I told myself that I will be a police officer here. It was just a matter of time.”
Bailey said her job duties involve assisting the citizens of Newcastle and keeping them safe.
“I will be trained on a variety of things from getting dangerous people off the roadway, to helping whoever calls dispatch for my services,” Bailey said. “I look forward to serving the community.”
OFFICER COREY HARWELL
Harwell is a 1997 graduate of Chickasha High School, and he served nine years in the Air Force and Air National Guard where he was trained to be a heavy equipment operator. He later cross-trained to be a machinist and a welder.
He attended Oklahoma State University Fire Safety Training for Firefighter I and Firefighter II, and OSU again for his Basic 15 hours required to obtain his Oklahoma State Teaching certificate.
He was an instructor at Red River Technology for CNC programming and manual machining, and he was an adjunct CNC and Manual Machining Instructor at Southern Technology Center in Ardmore. He also has been self-employed with a manufacturing shop and motorcycle shop.
He currently owns a gun shop, AMW Armament Inc., and is opening a store front on Main Street in Newcastle.
Harwell is the husband to his wife, Ashley, and they have three children: Macie, 14; Luke, 12; and Paisley, 10.
“I am absolutely enjoying myself being employed with the Newcastle Police Department,” Harwell said. “I immediately felt accepted into the work family and I’m looking forward to serving the community.”
OFFICER JARED SLENTZ
Slentz is a 2008 graduate of Putnam City West High School. He joined the Air Force upon graduation and served for six years.
He was assigned to Altus Air Force Base in Altus. He went to K9 detection school in 2012 and was assigned an explosives detection dog.
His training consists of not only military service, but also technical schools for Security Forces and K9. He previously worked for O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Slentz and his fiancée, Kayley, own Campers Coffee in Newcastle.
Slentz is the father to three daughters: Kinsley, 11; Gracey, 9; and Bethany, 6.
“Me and my family have lived in Newcastle for three years now, and we asbolutely love this community,” Slentz said. “Since being hired at Newcastle P.D., I have quickly realized how close-knit and family-oriented this department is.”
