Legislator plans hearing on OSBI

A legislator is planning a hearing at the state Capitol on the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation because of complaints about Director Stan Florence.

“It’s clear that this agency is not running smoothly,” Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, said in announcing his plans.

He said he hopes to hold the hearing next month and wants Florence and others to testify. Florence will be subpoenaed to appear, if necessary, he said.

More than 40 OSBI employees complained in January that Florence was “ineffective” as a leader and employee morale was declining. “Director Florence’s decisions often conflict with, instead of support, the agency’s core mission,” they wrote in a letter to the OSBI commission.

“Lawmakers appropriated more than $10 million to the agency for the upcoming fiscal year,” Cleveland said. “We didn’t give the agency that money so a director could intimidate employees who have concerns or so he could open up the bureau to lawsuits. We need straight answers from the director.”

Florence has been OSBI director for more than six years. He resigned as director in February but withdrew his resignation letter days later at the request of the OSBI commission.

Cleveland is chairman of the House Public Safety Committee. He still needs official approval from the House speaker to conduct the hearing, known in Oklahoma as an interim study.