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OK County Sheriff Admits Inmate Labor Used in Re-Election Campaign

The Oklahoma County Sheriff admits to Fox 25 his officers made mistakes when allowing inmates to do work for his reelection campaign. Fox 25 approached the Sheriff’s Office after learning inmates were used to work on material used for Sheriff John Whetsel’s campaign signs. "I'll tell you right up front, for me, I apologize to the citizens that this happened," Whetsel told Fox 25. "It should never have happened."

Witnesses tell Fox 25 inmates cut and painted metal posts that are currently holding up many of Whetsel’s reelection signs. Sheriff Whetsel admits the rebar poles were picked up by county employees on their personal time, but were then brought to the county jail maintenance shop. “The rebar showed up maybe a month and a half ago the first time,” a former inmate at the Oklahoma County Jail told Fox 25. “I've cut it twice. They wanted me to cut it into four foot lengths and I spray painted the tips of it white.”

The inmate, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, says he was asked to cut the metal while working as a jail trustee. "I heard them say it was going to be used for signs.". The inmate says pictures, obtained by Fox 25, show him and other inmates cutting and painting the poles inside the maintenance shop.

Sheriff Whetsel says his investigation revealed inmates were only used to help load and unload the rebar. “It doesn't matter who cut it, the fact of the matter is it shouldn't have been cut on county property,” Whetsel said, “and the fact of the matter is inmates shouldn't have had anything to do with it period.”

The sheriff says the rebar was cut using a saw that is owned by the same employee who picked up the rebar. The saw is on loan to the sheriff’s office. The paint used to mark the tips of the sign posts was owned by Oklahoma County. Sheriff Whetsel says he will reimburse the county for the paint. Sheriff Whetsel says the mistakes by two long-time employees was a lapse in judgement. "The buck stops with me, I'm responsible for the men and women who work here at the sheriff's office."

Whetsel says when he first learned from Fox 25 sign posts were cut on county property and inmate labor was used he contacted the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office. He says the DA’s office will be conducting a campaign ethics workshop for his senior staff. The man running to replace Whetsel as sheriff says that is not enough. Republican candidate Darrell Sorrels says there should be a criminal investigation opened into the sheriff's office.

"I believe the sheriff got caught with his hand in the cookie jar," Sorrels said after learning the Sheriff admitted inmate labor was used on campaign materials. '"If you get caught you're going to confess and you're going to apologize and want to pay back."

Sorrels, who was not the source of pictures of inmates working on the sign posts provided to Fox 25, says he has spoken to other county employees after seeing those photographs. "I believe there are more facts out there, which I do believe, and it will show he [Sheriff Whetsel] knew all along.". Sorrels the sheriff should know what is happening in his jail and his campaign. "He's been campaigning for 16 years now and should know and he's in control of his campaign and he should know what is right and what is wrong."

Sheriff Whetsel says he is sorry this happened and he is still investigating to see what will happen to the employees involved. "This should not have happened. It did, but it should not have happened and it won't again."

District Attorney David Prater says he cannot comment on the case at this point because his office also provides legal services for the Sheriff’s office and jail. Prater also has not seen the pictures and no one has brought a complaint to his office yet concerning the improper use of inmate labor. He says if that happens he will ask for assistance on any investigation from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

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