M.T. Berry, Oklahoma City's first Black police chief and a fixture in city government for nearly half a century, has died at 75 after a long battle with brain cancer. His public service career with Oklahoma City stretched 49 years, carrying him from patrol officer to the top job in the Police Department and later into the upper ranks of City Hall. He retired in 2019 after 49 years of service, according to the Journal Record.
City officials announced Berry's death and said he had been undergoing treatment for brain cancer, according to KOCO. Mayor David Holt called Berry "a legendary public servant" and said his 49 years as a city employee "attest to that." City Manager Craig Freeman praised Berry's intelligence, honesty and calm under pressure. Berry is survived by his wife, four children and seven grandchildren, KOCO reported.
Recognition And Roots
Berry's place in Oklahoma City history has long been acknowledged. The University of Central Oklahoma's African American Faculty/Staff Association lists him among the institution's distinguished alumni and notes that he became the first Black police chief in Oklahoma City. Colleagues have credited Berry with mentoring generations of officers and helping to shape community-focused policing efforts, a role that often put him at the intersection of neighborhoods and City Hall.
From Chief To City Hall
Berry was appointed Oklahoma City's 47th police chief on March 3, 1998, and led the department for five years before moving into city administration, according to KOCO. He was named assistant city manager in 2003 and for years supervised the Police Department, at one point overseeing a roughly $119.6 million budget and nearly 1,300 employees.
The Journal Record noted that Berry's retirement became effective in 2019, closing a 49-year municipal career that city leaders said left an enduring imprint on Oklahoma City's government and its public safety operations.
Policy Work And Public Service
Even after stepping away from the chief's office, Berry stayed involved in shaping police policy. He served as a special advisor and facilitator for the city's Law Enforcement Policy Task Force, where his steady demeanor and long institutional memory were frequently cited as assets in sometimes tense discussions about public safety.
Community members, along with current and former officers, have remembered Berry as a mentor and a guiding hand in both policy and personnel matters. More public remembrances from officials and civic groups are expected in the days ahead.
Berry leaves behind his wife, four children and seven grandchildren. No public details on memorial arrangements were available at the time of reporting.
