Four Counties, Four Sheriffs
A survey of the four county area (Delaware, Ottawa, Craig, and Mayes) reveals that all four Sheriffs face similar problems...old patrol cars with several hundred thousand miles on them, shortage of deputies, old equipment, and not enough money to run their departments as they wish.
But they get by.
In Mayes County, Sheriff Frank Cantey covers 644 square miles with nine full time deputies working two shifts, two on days, two on nights. Complete statistics can be found on their website at www.mayescountysheriff.org. Some law enforcement people will tell you that Mayes County has the best Sheriff's operation in the area. They have no tribal police to assist.
In Craig County, Sheriff Jimmy Sooter covers 772 square miles with seven deputies, two per shift on 12 hour shifts. The county is building a new jail which will house DOC prisoners and bring in additional revenue. The Sheriff's office has a budget of $380,000 with some $100,000 coming from a portion of a one-cent sales tax which must be renewed every five years. He has 10 vehicles all of which are more than five years old. Officers are cross-deputized with the Marshall's service.
In Ottawa County, Sheriff Dennis King covers 465 square miles. Unfortunately, the person in the office handling phone calls said "we don't have anyone in the office who knows the answers to your questions." Our phone call was not returned by anyone who could answer them.
In Delaware County, Sheriff Jay Blackfox has three deputies per shift to cover 741 square miles. Vehicles average 200,000 miles on the odometer. The budget for 2004-05 is $705,192 and they seek a half-cent increase in the sales/excise tax to fund it. They do get DOC revenue for prisoners and make about $12/day profit on each. They also have Tribal police to assist, and Grove and Jay will pay for about 70% of the sales tax revenue they seek.
One thing for sure: Money is tight at all locations.
But they get by.
In Mayes County, Sheriff Frank Cantey covers 644 square miles with nine full time deputies working two shifts, two on days, two on nights. Complete statistics can be found on their website at www.mayescountysheriff.org. Some law enforcement people will tell you that Mayes County has the best Sheriff's operation in the area. They have no tribal police to assist.
In Craig County, Sheriff Jimmy Sooter covers 772 square miles with seven deputies, two per shift on 12 hour shifts. The county is building a new jail which will house DOC prisoners and bring in additional revenue. The Sheriff's office has a budget of $380,000 with some $100,000 coming from a portion of a one-cent sales tax which must be renewed every five years. He has 10 vehicles all of which are more than five years old. Officers are cross-deputized with the Marshall's service.
In Ottawa County, Sheriff Dennis King covers 465 square miles. Unfortunately, the person in the office handling phone calls said "we don't have anyone in the office who knows the answers to your questions." Our phone call was not returned by anyone who could answer them.
In Delaware County, Sheriff Jay Blackfox has three deputies per shift to cover 741 square miles. Vehicles average 200,000 miles on the odometer. The budget for 2004-05 is $705,192 and they seek a half-cent increase in the sales/excise tax to fund it. They do get DOC revenue for prisoners and make about $12/day profit on each. They also have Tribal police to assist, and Grove and Jay will pay for about 70% of the sales tax revenue they seek.
One thing for sure: Money is tight at all locations.
posted by Editor | 12:21 PM
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