A dramatic roadside encounter between an Oklahoma City police officer and the sheriff of neighboring Canadian County has exposed tensions between lawmen on opposite sides of the jurisdictional line.
The clash began when Sheriff Chris West was pulled over just days after appearing alongside president Donald Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of an executive order to ‘unleash'” law enforcement agencies.
The incident occurred on May 2, when OKCPD stopped West for allegedly driving 58mph in a 45mph zone on Mustang Road — just outside Oklahoma City limits.
But the moment the officer approached the vehicle, it was clear he recognized who he’d pulled over — and that this wasn’t just any traffic stop.
‘You’re the sheriff, aren’t you?’ the officer asked through the window.
The officer then told West he planned to issue only a warning.
‘My intent was just to write you a warning,’ he said. ‘Can I go back and write you a warning?’
Sheriff West, who patrols Canadian County — which borders the west side of Oklahoma City — didn’t seem thrilled about leaving a paper trail.
A newly released bodycam video shows Canadian County Sheriff Chris West being pulled over by an Oklahoma City police officer for allegedly speeding on May 2
The officer clocked West going 58mph in a 45mph zone on Mustang Road, just outside city limits
‘Do you need to? I’d rather there not be anything documented,’ he responded.
The city officer pushed back.
‘Nothing documented? Is it an election year?’ he asked.
‘Go get your piece of paper,’ the sheriff snapped, making it clear he wasn’t in the mood for games.
Tensions simmered as the officer returned with the warning, reiterating: ‘My intent was just to write you a warning from the start.’
That’s when West, a former state trooper, fired back.
‘Well, here’s my deal,’ he said. ‘You know, I’m a retired trooper. I never did this. When I stopped cops, as soon as I found out… (inaudible)’
‘You could just not speed,’ the officer shot back.
Tensions quickly rose after the officer recognized West and offered to issue only a warning — prompting the sheriff to ask that nothing be documented
The officer pushed back, asking if it was an election year, and West told him to ‘go get your piece of paper.’ At one point, West invoked ‘professional courtesy,’ leading the officer to snap, ‘You’re as big of a jerk as I heard you are.’
Sheriff West argued he was on official county business at the time.
‘This is a county vehicle and I’m working right now,’ he said. ‘No different than you going somewhere else. Listen, I’m not going to call your chief and complain.’
Oklahoma City Police later confirmed that West had no emergency equipment activated — raising further questions about his claim he was on duty.
The showdown then took an even sharper turn when Sheriff West brought up ‘professional courtesy.’
The officer didn’t mince words.
‘Well, just as ‘professional’ and ‘courtesy,’ you’re as big of a jerk as I heard you are,’ the city officer snapped. ‘Have a better day.’
West later downplayed the incident in a comment to FOX 25, saying he was pulled over and received a warning, adding that the bodycam video ‘spoke for itself.’
But the footage has fueled fresh scrutiny over the sheriff — who has made headlines before.
A longtime figure in Oklahoma law enforcement, West (pictured) served nearly three decades with the Department of Public Safety and retired from the Highway Patrol in 2012
Just days before the traffic stop, West had been at a high-profile meeting with former President Donald Trump, where sheriffs from across the country gathered to support a new law enforcement executive order
As of now, the identity of the OKCPD officer who pulled over West has not been publicly disclosed.
A longtime figure in Oklahoma law enforcement, West served nearly three decades with the Department of Public Safety and retired from the Highway Patrol in 2012.
He became Canadian County Sheriff in 2016 and served as president of the state Sheriffs’ Association from 2021 to 2022.
He also drew national attention for attending the January 6 rally at the U.S. Capitol, saying he went as a private citizen and had no involvement in the riot that followed.
He further made waves for proposing a ‘Sheriff’s Posse’ — a rapid-response group of civilian volunteers tasked with defending life and property.
Just days before the traffic stop, West had been at a high-profile meeting with former President Donald Trump on April 28, where sheriffs from across the country gathered to support a new law enforcement executive order.
