Oklahoma County sheriff 's OK'd for move

Over the next month, the Oklahoma County sheriff's office will take a historic step as it moves out of the county jail and into a facility in northeast Oklahoma City.

With approval from county c o m m i s s i o n e r s d u r i n g a Wedn e s d a y me e t i n g , t h e office will now call the count y's Krowse Army Reserve Center building at NE 36 and Martin Luther King Avenue home.

“People are already walking around preparing to move,” said sheriff's office spokesman Mark Myers. “Things are in motion.”

It has taken months for the sheriff's office to gain the necessary approvals, something Sheriff P. D. Taylor pointed out earlier this week, saying the move had been “delayed and delayed and delayed.”

The office had been eyeing the Krowse building since last year, but officials wanted to examine other options before agreeing to the move.

Myers said employees are excited t o move out of t he jail's first floor and basement offices, which have experienced flooding and leaks and other infrastructure issues.

The new lease begins officially on Friday, and Myers said he expects the office to make IT and facility renovations i n the coming weeks. They should be moved in by the end of May.

“Krowse was overwhelmi n g l y t h e b e s t o p t i o n , ” Commissioner Carrie Blumert said. “It was the most affordable, it was the best location and it has the best layout. And it was almost move-in ready.”

Blumert and Commissioner Brian Maughan voted for the l ease, while Commissioner Kevin Calvey voted against it.

The move is an affirmation that the Oklahoma County Jail Trust will take over operations of the jail in lieu of the sheriff in the near future.

“Aside from hiring ( trust j a i l a d m i n i s t r a t o r ) G r e g Williams, this is the biggest step we've taken,” Blumert said. “Once the sheriff moves out and t he t rust has t heir staffing in place, I think we are a lot closer to making the transition complete.”

Si nce t he t r ust hopes t o employ the current jail staffers, those who accept trust job offers won't continue to work for the sheriff's office. Myers s a i d t hat makes t he move bittersweet.

“There is no turning back now,” he said. “We have deep relationships with folks here. These are your friends and family. It's a little emotional to see that we have been riding down this law enforcement and jail road together, and now our paths are going to be going down different routes.”