Resident alleges year-long harassment by sheriff’s deputies during public comment

Tracy Oliver, who identified himself as a lifelong resident and veteran, used the meeting’s public-comment period to accuse sheriff’s deputies of following and surveilling him and his wife over the past year. Oliver said he filed prior complaints — including against Sheriff Tim Stout — and that he has text messages and home-security footage he can provide to support his concerns. "They're following us around all the time," he said, adding that his wife is frightened and he had filed another formal complaint recently.

Commissioners responded that they have limited authority over elected officials such as the sheriff, which generally extends to setting budgets and county policy but not directing law-enforcement operations. One commissioner advised Oliver that the voters and, in cases of alleged illegal conduct, the Kansas attorney general have oversight authority. Oliver said he already contacted the attorney general’s office and was instructed to make a formal complaint with the board.

The commissioners accepted Oliver’s public comment for the record and advised him on the state-level complaint process. They did not direct a formal investigation of the sheriff’s office at the meeting and noted that the statutory relationship limits what the board can do regarding an elected sheriff.

Oliver named individuals he said had previously looked into his concerns, including Allan Rivas and Pat Henderson, and said he could provide text messages and security-camera images if litigation were necessary. Commissioners encouraged Oliver to pursue the attorney-general route and to document the occurrences with the clerk’s office as appropriate. The meeting record shows no follow-up motion or vote to open a local inquiry or to request intervention of the sheriff’s office.