Oates, Silver earn Crime Stoppers awards

Bartlesville Police Department Senior Dispatcher Greg Oates and K-9 Officer Steven Silver were honored during an awards ceremony held last week in Bartlesville.

Northeast Oklahoma Crime Stoppers sponsored the banquet in honor of law enforcement in Washington and Nowata counties.

“Bartlesville Police Administration was honored to name K-9 Officer Steven Silver and Senior Dispatcher Greg Oates as the Northeast Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Officer and Civilian Employee of the Year from the Bartlesville Police Department,” said Police Chief Tom Holland.

Oates began his career with the police department in May 1990 and currently works the “Baker” shift in the Dispatch/Communications Division.

“Greg Oates is a long serving member of the Bartlesville Police Department’s Communications Division,” Holland said. “Greg is a senior dispatcher, who began his career with BPD as a detention officer and also served in parking enforcement. Greg was unanimously chosen by fellow dispatchers for this honor.”

Oates’ father, George Oates, is a retired Bartlesville fire chief.

Silver began his employment with the BPD in February 2012. Specializing in drug enforcement, he is currently a K-9 handler assigned to the Patrol Division on “Adam” Shift.

“Steven grew up in the Bartlesville area and was a paratrooper with the 82ndAirborne, serving two tours of duty in Iraq,” Holland said. “Steve’s father is Rick Silver, a retired lieutenant with BPD and current Washington County sheriff. His grandfather is the late Larry Silver Sr. who was a retired Bartlesville police captain and Washington County sheriff.
“Both of these men are serving the citizens of Bartlesville with distinction,” Holland said.