Annual Buckle Down Awards - Honoring Oklahoma's Top Cops

Named in honor of Officer Fabrienne VanArsdell, a member of the Tulsa Police Department from 1976 to 1981. On the evening of July 25, 1981, officer VanArsdell stopped a motorist at 6300 South Lewis Ave. While checking the driver’s record on the police radio in her car, her vehicle was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver. The doors of her police car were jammed shut by the collision and her unit burst into flames. Officer VanArsdell died in the fire. The other driver had a previous DUI arrest, and after a short jail term for this collision, he had a subsequent arrest for DUI.

This award was created in February of 1994 for the first Buckledown Awards Program, to remember officer VanArsdell and to honor all Oklahoma Law Enforcement Officers, Deputies, and Troopers whose lives were taken in traffic collisions while serving their communities. It is also intended to remind all officers of the importance of traffic enforcement and traffic safety. In 2001 the focus of this award was changed to Occupant Protection to help increase the enforcement of Seat Belt and Child Restraint laws and to promote the use of occupant protection by adults and children.