Acting Oklahoma County sheriff defends his progress at debate
At a debate that turned ugly quickly, Acting Oklahoma County Sheriff P.D. Taylor said Wednesday he has made dozens of positive changes since taking over March 2 but stressed “you can’t fix all the major issues overnight.”
“We’re addressing issues. We’re solving problems,” said Taylor. “I’m just a relentlesstype person. I’m never going to give up. I’m going to do the very best that I possibly can.”
Taylor, 71, a Republican, is seeking to complete the term of his former boss, John Whetsel, who retired March 1. The special general election is Sept. 12.
Both his opponents, independent Ed Grimes and Democrat Mike Hanson, went on the attack during the debate at the Tower Theater in Oklahoma City.
Grimes, 63, a Canadian County sheriff’s deputy and former undersheriff there, started early.
“There’s too much unaccountability. Too many deaths . ... Too many broken promises. Too many excuses,” Grimes said in his opening remarks.
He suggested taxpayers in Oklahoma County have had to pay more “because of this mismanagement.”
“It has to stop,” he said.
Hanson, 54, an Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy, complained that a “good old boy system” still exists in the sheriff’s office despite some changes for the better.
“If you’ve got about five hours I could tell you everything,” Hanson told moderator Tres Savage, the editor-in-chief of NonDoc.com. “It’s just some people are held to certain standards and then others aren’t.”
Taylor bristled at the constant criticism by Grimes at one point in the hourlong debate dubbed the “Tussle at the Tower.”
“It’s very easy for people to stand up here, that maybe’s never been above the first floor of that jail, and throw rocks,” he said, glancing at Grimes. “I have yet to hear a plan.”
Whetsel was re-elected sheriff last November but retired amid an investigation into accusations of financial mismanagement. Taylor was Whetsel’s undersheriff for almost 14 years but has sought to distance himself from his former boss.
Taylor tried to do so again Wednesday evening, telling the close to 200 people watching the debate that the difference between him and Whetsel is “night and day.”
“Mr. Whetsel didn’t take criticism. He didn’t listen to anyone. He didn’t take any ideas,” Taylor said. “Since March 2, there’s been so many changes. I should have brought a list of them.”
A recurring topic during the debate was the spike in inmate deaths at the overcrowded jail — 15 last year and 10 so far this year.
“There’s a lot being done,” said Taylor, revealing that he has met with Terri White, the commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, about solutions. “We are working as fast as we can.”
Hanson said some deaths might be prevented if more detention officers were hired to check on inmates. “It’s going to cost lives or it’s going to cost money,” Hanson said. “We need people in the jail to work. I’d rather it cost us money than cost us lives.”
Grimes blamed poor management and poor decisions for the jail deaths. He pointed to a failure to separate rival gang members that led to one recent death and a failure to hire more detention officers last year despite an increase in funding to the sheriff’s office for that purpose.
“Money is being allocated to places where it should not be,” Grimes said.
In a line that gained him wide applause, Grimes also said inmates needed to be treated like they’re human beings, not animals.
Taylor beat three GOP candidates in the special primary election in April and is expected to win again in September. But he has been campaigning steadily and raising funds — more than $119,000 through June 30.
Grimes reported raising $9,596 through June 30. Hanson on July 31 reported raising $1,650.