OKLAHOMA CITY – Hours after claiming victory in a tight reelection bid, Sheriff John Whetsel will undergo an investigation but keep his job.
The Oklahoma County Commissioners voted to continue investigating Whetsel, following an audit that alleged financial mismanagement.
An agenda for Wednesday morning’s meeting called for a decision on Whetsel’s employment, allowing for the possibility of a suspension or removal from office.
“We have to consider what our duties are in this matter, regardless of what happened and how this came to pass,” said Commissioner Brian Maughan, who again pushed for Whetsel’s ouster, despite his re-election the night before. “We’ve had a number of county officers in the past get elected, but that doesn’t change what the law is.”
Maughan said any other officer of the law would be suspended if he or she did something similar.
Constituents have complained like few issues before, Maughan said.
Whetsel maintains he simply made errors – nothing illegal – when he chose not to pay a medical provider, even though his office had the funds.
The provider sued Oklahoma County, and a judge awarded the provider $3.3 million.
Whetsel also spent approximately $900,000 on vehicles when other financial obligations were not being met, according to the audit.
“As to the audit, let me emphatically say there was no money missing,” Whetsel told the Board of Commissioners in a statement that included an apology. “There were no funds embezzled. And, there was no money spent unlawfully. Every decision made by me or the leadership of the sheriff’s office was made in an effort to best serve our county.”
Maughan attempted a motion to suspend the sheriff, but it died when it failed to gain a second.
Instead, the district attorney’s office will continue to evaluate if there was any wrongdoing.
An investigation would likely begin in January, said District Attorney David Prater, and will take approximately two-six months to complete.
“I didn’t think it rose to the level of a suspension or a removal or an ouster petition,” said Commissioner Ray Vaughn, who voted for the investigation. “What we need to do is complete the investigation that’s already ongoing.”
Supporters of the sheriff filled the boardroom before the vote.
Some spoke on behalf of the man they said changed things for the better during his nearly 20-year tenure.
Whetsel said he fully cooperated during the seven-month audit, which he believes was put forward to influence the election.