Oklahoma City, OK — The state board overseeing police pensions and retirement approved disability benefits Wednesday for former Oklahoma City Police Department Sgt. Joseph Gibson, who resigned following a high-profile incident that left a 71-year-old man seriously injured.
The incident, which occurred on October 27, 2024, involved Gibson and Lich Vu during a traffic stop. Video footage released by the Oklahoma City Police Department on November 8, 2024, shows a verbal altercation escalating between the two. After Vu tapped Gibson’s vest and told him to “shut up,” Gibson grabbed Vu’s arm and slammed him to the ground.
Vu sustained severe injuries, including a C1 vertebra fracture, an orbital fracture, and a brain bleed that required surgery. According to Vu’s attorney, he remains in poor health.
Following the incident, Gibson was placed on administrative leave while both criminal and administrative investigations were conducted. In December 2024, Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna charged Gibson with aggravated assault and battery. Behenna described the use of force as unreasonable, supported by an affidavit citing expert opinions from defensive tactics instructors within the police department.
However, later that month, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed the charges, arguing that Gibson acted within the scope of his training and that Vu should not have made physical contact with the officer. Drummond emphasized his stance against prosecuting officers for actions consistent with their training.
The dismissal sparked further controversy. Vu’s family, represented by Pennsylvania attorney Devon M. Jacob, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit naming Gibson, Drummond, and the City of Oklahoma City as defendants. The city declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, who serves on Gibson’s legal team, criticized the lawsuit, stating it misrepresents the facts and maintains Gibson acted appropriately given the circumstances.
In March 2025, reports emerged that Gibson had applied for disability retirement benefits through Oklahoma’s Police Pension and Retirement System (OPPRS). Despite public scrutiny and the ongoing lawsuit, the state board approved Gibson’s application this week.
Executive Director Ginger Sigler confirmed that while no vote had been taken on the application in earlier meetings, the board ultimately granted the disability pay.
The decision has raised questions about police accountability, use of force policies, and the standards governing retirement benefits for law enforcement officers involved in incidents resulting in serious injury.
