OKLAHOMA, USA — All Oklahoma counties, including LeFlore and Sequoyah, have applied for additional grant funding through the Attorney General's Office to strengthen operations at their sheriff's offices.
"This funding to all 77 counties will help sheriff’s offices statewide strengthen their operations and enhance public safety," Attorney General Gentner Drummond said. "I appreciate the work of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association in helping to ensure all counties receive support."
House Bill 2914, which passed in June and went into effect on July 1, 2024, established the Oklahoma Sheriff's Office Funding Assistance Grant Program. Drummond's office said $18 million was appropriated for the grant program.
According to HB 2194, counties can either qualify for $150,000, $250,000, or $300,000 in grants depending on their total tangible property valuation. Grant money can be used for operations, including training, technology, equipment, and more.
Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane and LeFlore County Sheriff Rodney Derryberry said their departments each qualified for $250,000.
If awarded the grant, Derryberry said the sheriff's office will put the money toward bonuses for deputies, equipment, and training. Lane said he had similar plans for Sequoyah County.
"We will use most of it for a stipend for the employees," Lane said. "The rest will be for training and equipment."
However, Lane had intentions to use the money to increase salaries.
"It was originally supposed to be for sheriff and deputies' salaries since the sheriffs in Oklahoma make well below the pay for any other law enforcement agency," Lane said. "But, the Senate made changes to the bill and now we cannot use it for salary."
The deadline to apply was last week. All applications are under review by Drummond's office. The office said they will begin sending agreements to sheriffs and county commissioners by the end of this month.
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