News release (Special proclamation)
(Stillwater, Okla) — February 13, 2023, Payne County Board of Commissioners Meeting, a special proclamation will be presented proclaiming “February 13 – 17, 2023, as “Payne County, Oklahoma, Women in Law Enforcement Week”, pending Board of Commissioners’ approval.
The Payne County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a celebration to honor “PAYNE COUNTY WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEK” on February 15, 2023, from 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm at the Payne County Courthouse, Room #307.
This event will be held to honor the first women to serve in Law Enforcement in Payne County jurisdictions:
Ruth Stites, Payne County Sheriff’s Office, 1972
Darla J. Huffman, Oklahoma State University Police Department, 1972
Cindy Waterworth, Stillwater Police Department, 1977
Anita Retherford, Cushing Police Department, 1978
Kaylee Taylor, Perkins Police Department, 2013
The event will also honor all women currently serving their communities as law enforcement officers throughout Payne County jurisdictions.
Special guests in attendance will be honorees Ruth Stites, Anita Retherford, and Kaylee Taylor. Ms. Stites is the oldest living member of the first group of women to serve at 93 years of age, and Ms. Taylor is the youngest at 33 year of age.
