Published: July 25, 2008 08:11 pm      

Sheriff stonewalling public records request

By MIKE FRIEND

Assistant Editor



Grady County Sheriff Kieran McMullen is stonewalling a request for public records that could show he misused the county’s communications system to tell deputies that recent stories in The Express-Star were untrue.

The Express-Star made a verbal request Tuesday followed by a formal written request the next day for transcriptions of any reverse 911, mesaging, paging and dispatch communication that occurred on July 15.

McMullen has produced only five pages of communication between dispatch and deputies. It appears to have gaps in time and has some information blacked out. He has declined requests for the other records and has since refused to talk or meet with The Express-Star.

The Oklahoma “Open Records Act” mandates that the records be provided in a timely manner. Failure to do so could lead to a public official being charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine and/or up to a year in jail.

District Attorney Bret Burns has said the request made by the newspaper is a “reasonable” one.

Newspaper Publisher Jerry Pittman said if McMullen has not turned over all the requested records by Monday, the newspaper would file a formal complaint with the district attorney and the Oklahoma Attorney General.

The Express-Star has learned that on July 15 McMullen sent a page to deputies discrediting the Express-Star and a reporter, calling a story about a reserve deputy initiating a high-speed pursuit of a man who he had observed not wearing a seat belt a “lie.” Such use of the county’s communications system could be deemed misuse of the taxpayer-financed system.

The records request was also made to George Manning, 911 coordinator, and the three Grady County Commissioners. Manning and commissioner Mike Lennier said the records had to come from McMullen. Manning also refushed to relinguish any records although Burns said friday he had instructed him to so.

McMullen has refused to return phone calls or meet with reporters since Tuesday and has kept reporters waiting for him to leave his office only to exit out a rear entrance.

On Thursday, Shane Wyatt, the jail administrator, told a Express-Star reporter to have a seat in the waiting area and McMullen would be with him after a meeting. After waiting for approximately a half-hour in the waiting area, the reporter asked how much longer before the sheriff would be available.

Wyatt said, “The sheriff is no longer here.”

Requests to talk to 911 personnel were also declined because they “were swamped.”

McMullen was observed entering the building later in the day and as he walked swiftly to he told a reporter, “I don’t think we have anything to talk about. I think I gave you what you requested.” .

He then went up the steps and let the door close behind him.

Deputies, who can regularly be seen congregating outside the jail to smoke and talk, were asked about the page from McMullen.

One deputy, who would not identify himself as required by law but was later identified as Al Hooper, said, “I ain’t got anything to say to you. You can just get the hell off the Sheriff’s property.”

Reminded that the jail is on public property, Hooper said, “the newspaper ain’t a civilian. Just get out of here.”

Deputy Robert Casey, who along with McMullen was indicted in connection with illegal gambling at the Chickasha Elks Lodge, replied, “No comment, no comment, no comment.”