Michael J. Garner
May 3, 1946 – August 5, 2008
An avid outdoorsman, competitive shooter, committed husband, father and grandfather Mike spent his life in the service of others.
A thirty-year veteran of law enforcement Sgt. Mike Garner retired in March of 2002 as Traffic Safety Coordinator for the Tulsa Police Department – the last half of his career devoted exclusively to traffic and child passenger safety.
A leader in his field, Mike co-founded the Oklahoma Buckledown Awards in 1993, quickly becoming the state’s largest law enforcement recognition program. That same year he would join Mary Beth Ogle, a nurse from the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis and Tom Hufford, a Tulsa Firefighter, in founding the Tulsa Area Safe Kids Coalition.
Both programs would ultimately bring law enforcement, the medical community and local government agencies together working towards a common goal – protecting Oklahoma's children and families.
The recipient of numerous local and national awards for outstanding achievement, Mike took great personal satisfaction participating in hands-on training and leading grassroots efforts for child passenger safety and "Buckle Up in Your Truck.” And he successfully championed legislative drives to pass Oklahoma's Seatbelt and child restraint laws.
His energy and passion were contagious and his dedication to the community was surpassed only by his love for his family. In retirement Mike remained active in both organizations he helped to found, he traveled extensively with his family by his side and took great pride in caring for his grandson.
The “Seatbelt Man” as he was affectionately known will be remembered for his tireless service, his love for his family and the inspiring way in which he lived.
Had you met him you would have never known he battled Kidney Cancer for ten years.
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