Former state senator and longtime narcotics chief to take office July 6 following Chris Amason’s resignation
NORMAN — Former state Sen. Darrell Weaver, a Moore Republican and veteran Oklahoma law enforcement leader, has been unanimously appointed as Cleveland County sheriff, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of former Sheriff Chris Amason.
Cleveland County commissioners voted Monday to appoint Weaver, who will be sworn in July 6 and serve as sheriff until the next scheduled election in 2028. He succeeds Undersheriff Michael Finley, who has served as interim sheriff since April.
Weaver represented Senate District 24, which includes Moore, from 2018 to 2026 and most recently finished second in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor behind T.W. Shannon.
Before entering politics, Weaver spent 28 years with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, beginning as an agent in 1987 and later serving nine years as the agency’s director. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2014.
Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton said there was “no one more qualified” to lead the sheriff’s office.
“Senator Weaver has dedicated his life to public service and law enforcement,” Paxton said. “Throughout his legislative service, he remained focused on protecting Oklahomans, supporting law enforcement and advancing commonsense public safety policies.”
State Sen. Paul Rosino, whose district includes part of Cleveland County, praised Weaver’s expertise on public safety issues.
“His work in the Senate was driven by a genuine desire to protect victims, prevent crime and make Oklahoma communities safer,” Rosino said. “While I will miss serving alongside him in the Senate, I am excited to see him continue his public service in this new capacity.”
Weaver takes over an office that has faced months of turmoil following Amason’s resignation. Amason stepped down in April after pleading no contest to a felony embezzlement charge stemming from allegations that he improperly transferred money from his campaign account to himself and others between May 2020 and July 2025. Amason received a five-year deferred sentence, agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution to a local church and surrendered his CLEET certification.
A graduate of Cameron University and Oklahoma Christian University, Weaver also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police. He and his wife, Kim, a physician, live in Moore and have five children.
