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Commissioners probe missing seized firearm, consider stricter evidence procedures
Summary
During routine business the Haskell County Commissioners discussed a missing firearm reportedly seized by the sheriff's office, reimbursement questions and proposed procedural fixes such as two-signature checks and witness sign-offs to improve evidence handling.
During review of payments and purchase orders, Haskell County commissioners spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing a missing firearm and how the county should handle reimbursement and evidence-chain controls.
The chair said the receipt for the gun was made out to the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office even though a person named Steven reportedly purchased it, creating confusion about who should be reimbursed. "Steven had bought the gun, but the receipt was made to the sheriff's office," the chair said as commissioners discussed options to make the parties "right." The commissioners also said the deputy who processed the item is no longer employed and that searches of vehicles and the evidence room had failed to locate the firearm.
Commissioner Clark McCleary and the chair discussed possible procedural responses, including requiring two sign-offs when items are logged, having an owner or witness sign off when property is taken into custody, using a boxed intake process for inmate belongings and securing items in an evidence locker. The chair noted concern about taking a case to court over a $468 firearm and emphasized making the affected people whole if possible.
No formal motion to resolve reimbursement appears in the transcript; the conversation focused on clarifying records and tightening processes to prevent similar incidents. The commissioners then returned to other agenda items and adjourned the meeting.
