Bryan County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tyler Balentine was sworn in recently as a Deputy U.S. Marshal with the Eastern Oklahoma Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force by supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Lance Hancock.
According to Sheriff Joey Tucker, it will allow Balentine to hunt for the violent felons that have created mass chaos in the county.
“Our violent offenders that have absconded on us, Tyler will be able to go chase those guys down for us and make sure their victims are getting the relief they need and make sure those guys are being locked up where they need to be,” Tucker said.
Balentine will still be serving as chief deputy of the sheriff’s office and handling everyday activities with the sheriff’s office, according to Tucker.
“When we have to go after a violent offender, Tyler will be able to suit up and go out and catch that guy for us,” Tucker said.
The late Johnny Christian was a deputized U.S. Marshal while serving with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol prior to being elected sheriff.
“It’s exactly what Sheriff Christian was, and I’m honored to be able to keep his legacy up,” Tucker said. “He started this program for us. He special deputized another couple of our guys when he first became sheriff and I just want to keep that going and make sure that we keep his legacy going as well because he did build this foundation that we’re standing on and we’re grateful to have it.”
Balentine has served with the sheriff’s office for about 15 years.
“He started with us when he was 18 years old and that’s one of the good things about our jail is we can start them off at 18,” Tucker said. “Now, we have that 20-year retirement so at 18, they can be retired at 38 now. Tyler, I think he’s going to be with us long term. We’ll have to move him out personally in a wheelchair to get him out of here and that’s the same way with most of us, so I hope it continues to stay that way.”
