Facing charges, 2 Caddo Co. police chiefs taken off duty

ANADARKO — Two Caddo County police chiefs are in legal trouble this week — one accused of making sexual propositions to a 15-year-old girl, the other of rolling his police vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Garri Don McClure, 35, of Gracemont, is charged with making lewd and indecent proposals to a child under 16, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in jail.

McClure surrendered to authorities Monday. By evening, he was terminated as Gracemont's police chief in a 4-0 vote by the town council.

McClure admitted to investigators that he solicited sex with a 15-year-old girl in his community via text messages. He told the girl she did not have to be "legal” with him, as long as she kept their relationship "secret.” He then advised her to delete all text messages.

The girl told investigators McClure discussed sex during their conversations and asked her to meet him somewhere.

McClure became chief Oct. 31, 2005, Town Clerk Janelle Owings said.

"Surprised,” Owings said when asked for a comment. "I just think he got caught up in this thing.”

McClure was released from the Caddo County jail in Anadarko on $5,000 bail.

In neighboring Eakly, the town council voted 3-0 Tuesday to indefinitely suspend Police Chief Reydon Clay Recker.

Recker, 25, was charged Monday with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and drugs. If convicted, he could pay a fine of up to $1,000 or serve anywhere from 10 days to one year in jail.

"I was really surprised by both of these deals,” said Gene Cain, Caddo County sheriff. "Probably as surprised as anybody, I guess. It's sad, but sometimes these things happen. It's especially hard when it happens in law enforcement, but they happen.”

Recker, who once worked for Cain, rolled his police vehicle Sunday just north of Alfalfa on State Highway 58. Highway patrol trooper Thomas Setters discovered a number of opened and unopened beer bottles inside and outside the vehicle.

He also noted the presence of a valid prescription for Librium, an anti-anxiety drug prescribed to Recker with the warning, "May cause drowsiness ...”

Recker was released from the Caddo County jail on a personal recognizance bond.

"At this time, we're going to have an inactive police department,” said Lisa Root, Eakly's town clerk. "He was our only full-time officer.”

The county sheriff's office will handle law enforcement until the issue is resolved.