Taxpayer-funded 'dress uniforms' for ODOC executives stir controversy

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — We're answering your questions and concerns about some new attire seen on top executives at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC).

The new so-called 'dress uniforms,' funded with your tax dollars, raised some eyebrows at recent cadet graduations.

Graduation ceremonies for Corrections cadets and their families are filled with pomp and circumstance to mark a milestone for the men and women getting their graduation certificates and job assignments within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

"We want to treat our cadets," said ODOC Executive Director Steve Harpe. "We want to treat the people who we're pouring into for seven weeks and with a CLEET Academy that'll be 16 weeks. We want them to know that the ceremony should be something special."

FOX 25 viewers reached out, asking us about what appear to be military-like uniforms on the three top executives at the agency.

"I'm a military brat by trade," said Harpe. "Well, I grew up as a military brat."

"But not a veteran?" we asked.

"Not a veteran," Harpe answered. "Well, I tore my ACL a couple times, so they wouldn't take me, but I was going in."

Harpe showed FOX 25 a couple of the new dress uniforms he and three others now wear to ceremonies. They all have standard patches that were made within ODOC, a badge, name, and so-called 'rank.'

As executive director, Harpe's has 4 stars.

"We just went with traditional corrections dress," said Harpe. "There's nothing too fancy. We didn't do anything too crazy with it. There are white shirts that go underneath, and blue pants with a stripe that accompany it."

Through an Open Records request, we learned the agency spent $1,912.44 on the three dress uniforms worn by ODOC executives.

To Harpe, it's money well spent, validating a monumental day for these men and women. He points out Governor Stitt spoke to cadets at one recent ceremony.

Harpe insists the new attire and the expense to taxpayers aren't just silly cosplay.

"It's not for any self-serving reasons," he said. "It's to pay respects to those people who just went through this and who are now going to serve us in a very special way."

Harpe claims most states do something similar, as does OHP, but OHP tells us their top exec does not.

We also reached out to surrounding states. Arkansas, Kansas, and New Mexico Corrections officials quickly got back to us saying their execs wear business suits or professional dress to cadet graduations...

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