An Oklahoma City police lieutenant lost his rank, his pay for more than two weeks and his supervisory role after an April Fools' Day hoax broadcast over OKCPD dispatch triggered a multi-agency emergency response to incidents that never happened.
The Oklahoma City Police Department's internal investigation found that the April 1 prank originated from police staff. Lt. Kyle Dake received a Class 3 reprimand, a demotion to sergeant and 16 days of suspension without pay, according to Oklahoma City Free Press, which first reported the disciplinary outcomes Aug. 24. Dispatch supervisor Amber Zarnke was demoted from her supervisory role.
No one was fired.
No criminal charges have been filed.
What happened on April 1
Just after 9:30 p.m. on April 1, a call went out over OKCPD dispatch claiming officers were pursuing a vehicle on South Robinson Avenue but could communicate only by text because their radio was broken.
As officers prepared to respond, the dispatcher relayed a text message claiming a baby had been thrown from the window of the pursued car. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, monitoring OKCPD's channel, began mobilizing to join the chase. Minutes later, another text update claimed the fleeing vehicle had "supposedly ran over a transient," prompting OKC Fire to head to the scene.
The pursuit, the baby, the struck pedestrian: none of it was real.
An OKCPD supervisor eventually ordered everyone to stand down, identifying the messages as an April Fools' Day prank. In the days that followed, the department confirmed an internal investigation was underway and that some staff had been placed on leave.
Discipline but no charges
MSgt. Gary Knight of the OKCPD Public Information Office confirmed the investigation's outcomes. Knight said the Dake and Zarnke actions were the only discipline made public.
"That is the only disciplinary action that rose to the level of public release," Knight said, suggesting additional lower-level discipline was given to other staff.
Under Oklahoma Statutes §63-2870, knowingly reporting false information that results in the dispatch of emergency services is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and reimbursement for the cost of any personnel and equipment dispatched. No charges have been filed against Dake or Zarnke. The department has not publicly explained why.
The statute specifically covers calls placed to 911. Whether it applies to a hoax broadcast over an internal police dispatch channel is unclear from available records.
Residents with information about OKCPD operations can contact the department's Public Information Office at (405) 297-1111.
