LE FLORE COUNTY, Okla. — Across LeFlore County, you may have seen many different election signs telling you who to vote for in this Oklahoma June primary. Now, it's time to put a face to the name of candidates vying to become the county's next sheriff.
The Republican candidates are incumbent Sheriff Rodney Derryberry, former interim Sheriff Donnie Edwards, and Spiro Police Chief Larry Crossland. They all have a common goal: Keeping the county safe and serving their community.
As primaries decide on a party nominee — aside from nonpartisan races — it is important to note that Oklahoma has a closed primary system, meaning if you are registered in a certain party, you may only participate in that party's primary. For LeFlore County, only Republican candidates will be up for appointment in June.
Getting to know each sheriff candidate
Sheriff Rodney Derryberry was elected in 2020. He says in the last four years, he's been working to bring more resource officers to the county's schools and improve the jail.
"We were able to get the funding and bring a company over that actually cooks for the inmates and everything, and they can choose and pick from a menu, [including] different meals, and even on holidays, or if they have a religious preference," Derryberry said. "We also brought in a medical company in the last nine months that provides, you know, 24-hour medical care and a doctor on call for them and everything. That does cost a lot of money."
Ahead of early voting, each candidate spoke about their plans in office if they were to be elected.
- Derryberry: "We'd strive to get more SROs in the schools. We'd strive for more money in the budget that way we could have more deputies out in the field and a few more investigators. And then we'd work toward the training and equipment."
- Crossland: "First, I want to get everybody on the same page. I'm all about one fight, one team. We're all out here for the same reason, to preserve life and protect people's property. So it's all about getting everybody on the same page, setting clear expectations, and holding everybody accountable."
- Edwards: "My biggest deal is I want more patrol in the county."
Before you head to the polls, the candidates want you to know why they think they're the best fit for the position.
- Crossland: "I've been doing this for a long time. I'm 53 years old. I have a lot to offer, training, drug interdiction, working crime, stuff like that. And if I can bring all these departments together and get the county on the same page as everybody else to where they feel comfortable about bringing information to us, then I've done my job."
- Derryberry: "I've been in law enforcement for almost 34 years now, 19 and a half years with the state of Oklahoma, with the District 16 drug and violent crime unit. And prior to that, I worked over in Wilburton and worked for the Choctaw Nation. I bring a lot of experience to the board. I've been all over the state. I've been in Arkansas and helped before over there on some operations. The way things are nowadays, I don't think I could go home and rest easy."
- Edwards: "I get along with just about everybody and I'll have a 100% open door policy to where if you need to talk to me, you can talk to me in person or by phone."
No democrat candidates are running for sheriff. Unless the race goes to a runoff, the next sheriff will be decided on June 18. Early voting in Oklahoma starts June 13 at the LeFlore County Election Board.
Election day voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 18. You can find the nearest Election Day polling place, through the OK Voter Portal online.
Editor's note: Crossland spoke to 5NEWS while he was on his lunch break.
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