Veteran law enforcement leader takes office as county looks to move beyond months of turmoil in the sheriff’s office
NORMAN — Former state Sen. Darrell Weaver officially took the oath of office Monday as Cleveland County sheriff, assuming leadership of an agency seeking to move beyond months of financial and legal controversy.
Weaver was appointed by the Cleveland County Board of County Commissioners in late June to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Sheriff Chris Amason. He was sworn in Monday at the Cleveland County Courthouse, formally beginning his tenure as the county’s chief law enforcement officer.
A Moore resident, Weaver brings nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to the position. He joined the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control in 1987 and served as director of the agency from 2006 until his retirement in 2015. He later represented Senate District 24 in the Oklahoma Senate from 2018 until accepting the sheriff’s appointment last month.
County commissioners selected Weaver after interviewing candidates to succeed Amason, whose resignation followed a no contest plea to a felony embezzlement charge. The sheriff’s office has faced intense scrutiny over the past two years, culminating in a 2025 report by the State Auditor and Inspector that found widespread financial mismanagement and millions of dollars in budget overruns during Amason’s administration.
Weaver has said his priorities include strengthening leadership, improving accountability and restoring public confidence in the sheriff’s office while maintaining a focus on public safety.
His appointment came just weeks after he finished second to former House Speaker T.W. Shannon in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Weaver succeeds interim Sheriff Mike Finley, who oversaw day-to-day operations after Amason resigned in April.
County officials have expressed confidence that Weaver’s background in law enforcement administration and public service will help stabilize the agency and guide it through its next chapter.
