Oversight trust proposed for sheriff ’s office

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan on Monday called for the creation of a trust to oversee the entire sheriff’s office.

Under his proposal, the trust would consist of five to seven citizens appointed to oversee and scrutinize all operations of the sheriff’s office.

“That would be a body who would govern whether or not we actually needed a good number of these things that the sheriff individually has elected to purchase,” Maughan said.

“Maybe we don’t need all these superfluous toys or different items ... versus adequately staffing the jail, which is the sheriff’s first constitutional priority.”

Maughan, who is running for Oklahoma City mayor, announced his idea at a news conference Monday.

“The operational trust would determine whether or not you need these things that you say you need, like a tank or a crane and different things that our sheriff’s office has acquired,” he said.

Maughan in the past has pushed for a trust to oversee jail operations only.

Acting Sheriff P.D. Taylor said Maughan’s “solution” would illegally remove the duties of the sheriff.

He said the law does not allow the creation of an operational trust over the entire agency.

“We further believe these types of discussions would more appropriately be held with the participation of an elected sheriff,” said Taylor, one of seven candidates running for the position because of the retirement of John Whetsel.

Whetsel stepped down March 1 after coming under investigation over allegations of financial mismanagement. He was sheriff for 20 years. A special primary election is set for April 4. A special general election is set for Sept. 12.

Maughan’s idea would require approval of two of the three county commissioners.

He said he hopes to raise the proposal at a county commissioner meeting before the end of May.

Maughan said he is making the proposal because of the “horrific findings” of the latest state audit involving the sheriff’s office.

State auditors on Friday reported 3,041 of the 7,844 items listed on inventory records as property of the sheriff’s office “could not be located or reviewed in any manner.”

The items that could not be found included pistols, shotguns, Tasers, pepper guns, computers, vehicles, bulletproof vests, walkie-talkies and chairs.

“The items that we were unable to locate or verify had a total cost of $3,362,003.45,” auditors reported.

Auditors specifically noted 23 firearms listed in inventory records could not be found.

“It is reprehensible, especially for a department that continuously asks us for more funding and says that they are underfunded,” Maughan said of the findings.

“Little items, there are explanations for why those might be missing. I personally find it very difficult to know how 18 vehicles could be missing. I don’t know how numerous weapons could be missing.”

Three other county officials also spoke out at the news conference about the audit findings.

“We will turn it around,” Court Clerk Rick Warren said.

“And we will make county government work again.”