The City of Mustang provides a "Spotlight Employee" each month so that citizens can learn more about the public servants that contribute to our City running smoothly. The Spotlight Employee will feature answers to a series of questions about the selected employee, the department and position they serve in, and unique likes and interests of the employee.
The November 2026 Spotlight Employee is Captain John Gibson of the Mustang Police Department.
How long have you worked for the City of Mustang? 23+ years.
Where were you born? (Hospital is not a permitted answer) Oklahoma City, OK.
Where do you live and how long have you lived there? Mustang for 23 years.
Are you married? Do you have any children? Yes. Mt wife Nikki and I have been married for 5 years. Between us we share 6 children, We have 4 grandchildren (3 granddaughters and 1 grandson).
What do you enjoy the most about working for the City of Mustang? I'm the patrol commander and what I really like is Community Policing. I get to see lots of different groups within the city and help lots of people with their event (Western Days Parade).
Specifically, what project have you most enjoyed being a part of while working for the City of Mustang? It's a tie between Special Events Coordinator and Accident Reconstructionist. I get to help people while doing both but in very different ways.
Favorite Food? Again a tie - Salmon and Steak.
Favorite Recording Artist or Author? Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson "Wheel of Time" series. Anything from the fantasy genre really. .
Do you have a secret skill or talent? I like to cook and bake.
What would you like to communicate to citizens about the challenges of being a Police Officer? One of the biggest challenges of being a police officer is that every day brings something different. You experience a wide variety of situations—some sad, some tragic, and some joyful. We often see people during some of the worst moments of their lives, and our job is to remain compassionate, professional, and helpful while doing what we can to make the situation better. One of the difficult parts is that when you leave one call and respond to the next, the people you encounter may not know what you just experienced. They may not know that minutes earlier you were dealing with a tragedy, a death, a person in crisis, or a family going through something devastating. Yet, you still have to put those emotions aside and be there for the next person who needs you. Some calls stay with you—not just for the rest of your shift, but sometimes for the rest of your life. Learning how to process those experiences while continuing to serve others can be one of the greatest challenges of this profession. Police officers are expected to be strong, but we are still human. We carry those experiences with us, even when the next call requires us to put them aside and focus on someone else.
Pictured are Captain Gibson and his wife, Nikki.