Police Chief Speaks Out After City Orders Silence

Broken Arrow Police Chief Lance Arnold broke his silence after the city issued a directive requiring him to remain quiet during his administrative leave. The order, delivered before a recent event, instructed Arnold to make no statements, either personally or through representatives, for the duration of his absence. Arnold addressed the media as a private citizen, challenging the scope of that instruction.

Attorney D. Mitchell Garrett Jr. clarified the legal tension surrounding the letter. He noted that while employers can dictate employee conduct, they cannot dictate attorney conduct. "I'm going to tell you, they can tell their employees what they can do. They cannot tell me what they can do," Garrett said. This distinction allowed Arnold to speak directly to the press despite the city's written directive.

Arnold revealed that his family learned of his leave through news reports rather than a personal call. "My wife and my two sons read it on their phone before I could even get home and tell her myself," he said. He expressed a desire for a fair investigation and stated his intention to cooperate fully with the process.

The chief confirmed he will attend the city's interview and answer all questions. He also stated that he has preserved all materials requested by the city and will continue to follow its directions during his leave. His attorneys added that the city has not yet told Arnold the specific details of the accusations against him.

Open records requests from the law firm and multiple news organizations, including KJRH, have remained unfulfilled. Garrett indicated that an email package related to the matter has been released to one media outlet. His team has asked the city to post the document on its website and provide it to all other outlets to ensure equal access to the information.

In a statement issued on Monday, Garrett said Arnold acknowledged a policy violation in a March email and accepted ultimate responsibility for it. The department subsequently retrained officers on warrantless arrests and entries. The city has not provided further details regarding the specific policies at issue. City officials told 2 News Oklahoma that they had no comment because the investigation is ongoing.