Whetsel Gets Free Ride On Jail Cmte. Report?

Attached is the final draft report of the Jail Cmte. Study.  Judging from the recent editorial in the Oklahoman, Sheriff Whetsel may get a free ride in the press.

However as you can see, it is a scathing indictment of the OPERATION of the jail while addressing some of the problems with the capacity of the jail.  Many feel that Sheriff Whetsel should not get a free ride on this.

There is some indication the Feds may get involved, but if they do, every county jail in Oklahoma is at risk – with very few exceptions.  Insiders we’ve talked to believe they are waiting to present their final report on what the County does.  OKPNS attempted to get the Sheriffs response to the DOJ report, but you will notice in the report a subtle hint that his response is flawed and he may well have misrepresented several issues in his response.  (A possible crime?)  An example is the reference to staffing levels.  The sheriff represented inflated staffing levels in his response, using AUTHORIZED levels rather than actual! note reference to that in report.

As to food service, when the kitchen is shut down for repairs, the Baptist Convention disaster team moves their mobile kitchens on the jail parking lot and prepares food for the detainees.  We’ve been told that when this occurs, invariably the detainees write letters complimenting the quality and preparation of the food, even though it is the same food!!
Estimates of the cost from professionals of building 600+ new cells, an infirmary, and reception ctr. (the sheriff also wants new office space, not included in the recommendations) is approx. 150 million. Just an informed guess, no real work has yet been done. Sheriff Whetsel wants more naturally and it will be interesting to see how the report is viewed by the Comm. next week when it is presented. Many speculate the Committee and Sheriff will take political cover behind the committee, as noted in the report.