Vic Regalado, a former lead homicide detective for the Tulsa Police Department, today announced he will be a Republican candidate for Tulsa County sheriff.
“I am running because I want to rebuild trust with the citizens of Tulsa County, but I also want law enforcement to have the support of the public to do the difficult job of pursuing criminals while making our neighborhoods safe,” Sergeant Regalado said. “We must always seek to elevate law enforcement to a professional level.”
A Tulsa police officer since 1994, Regalado was awarded the Medal of Valor in 2004 for going above and beyond the call of duty, and he has been awarded the Life Saving Award. Regalado currently oversees the night shift Special Investigations Gang Unit. He teaches CLEET certification courses in officer-involved shooting investigations as well as interviews and interrogation.
“Training, education and proper procedures are critical to developing professional law enforcement,” he said.
Regalado is no stranger to the public eye, having served as the lead homicide detective on 81 homicides, including some of Tulsa’s high-profile cases. He was the lead detective in the Good Friday murders, in which law enforcement received praise from across the for swift arrests and bringing unity to the city. He also was lead detective in the murder-for-hire of Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney as well as the Hicks Park murders.
“My family is important to me, so I take personally cases that involve families,” Regalado said. “As law enforcement officers, we have to get it right, so justice can be done for the victims and the family that loves them.”
Regalado and his wife, Jennifer, a Berryhill school teacher, have been married 21 years. They have three daughters.
“Protecting freedom and keeping our neighborhoods safe are not only my passions in life, it’s a family tradition,” he said.
Regalado’s father is a Mexican immigrant who entered America legally a half century ago and subsequently earned his citizenship. Both of his parents served in the United States military and his father served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
“We are proud Americans, and we believe we have a duty to serve our fellow citizens,” he said. “I am a lifelong Republican with conservative values, which means I believe in the rule of law, individual responsibility and personal freedom.”
Regalado attended Cameron University where he majored in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. During his law enforcement career, he has worked in patrol and various crime units including gangs, fugitive warrants and homicide. He was a 10-year member of the Tulsa Police Department’s SWAT team and currently is the evening supervisor of the Special Investigations Gang Unit.
