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Residents and jail trust members urge investigation, demand resignation of Jail Trust chair over alleged raises
Summary
Several public commenters and a member of the Jail Trust alleged the Jail Trust chair authorized raises contrary to a January vote and asked the county to investigate; speakers urged resignation and a state-auditor or attorney-general review while commissioners delayed an audit pending an AG opinion.
Multiple public commenters urged the Oklahoma County Commission to investigate alleged unauthorized raises to detention staff and to seek accountability from the Oklahoma County Jail Trust chair, whom speakers named as Jim Hullman.
Derek Scobby, who identified himself as a member of the Oklahoma County Jail Trust, said the Trust voted on Jan. 12 to pause raises but that more than 90 suggested raises were later submitted to the county clerk’s office. Scobby asked the commission to open a investigators’ review to determine when the formal raise requests were submitted and said, "I formally request that Commissioner Miles Davidson ... call for the immediate resignation of Mr. Jim Hullman from the Oklahoma County Jail Trust" if it is confirmed the approvals occurred after the Trust vote.
Other speakers echoed calls for scrutiny. Christopher Johnson said delaying the audit was a "delay tactic," cited a record of EMSA visits and deaths at the jail, and told the commissioners he suspected political influence and a pattern of withholding accountability. Mr. Cummings called the Trust’s leadership unqualified and said the board had repeatedly failed to meet standards.
The commission recorded that the district attorney’s office plans to request an official opinion from the attorney general on the statutory authority to proceed with an audit. Based on that pending opinion, a commissioner moved to strike the agenda item addressing an audit (item 25); the motion to strike was made and seconded in open session.
Public commenters sought both administrative and criminal review if the investigation finds willful action: Christopher Johnson asked for a criminal inquiry "if there's guts to criminally investigate that," and multiple speakers asked for the county to move quickly to clarify governance, accountability and whether Trust actions complied with recorded votes.
Next steps: Commissioners indicated they will await the attorney general’s official opinion on statutory authority for an audit. Public requestors asked for a county-led investigation into the timing and authorization of raise requests and urged the commissioner who appointed the Trust chair to call for his resignation if the investigation confirms approval after the Trust’s pause vote.
Actions referenced in this article: motion to strike item 25 pending AG opinion; public requests for an internal investigation and potential calls for resignation.
