The Roland reserve police officer suspended for allegedly violating police and town policies amid an election scandal is appealing his suspension and is denying allegations that he tried to frame a town council candidate.

Ken Cole, Roland reserve officer and animal control officer, was placed on unpaid suspension indefinitely following an internal police department investigation into a complaint lodged against Cole by Bob Swofford, town council candidate. See related story in this edition of Your TIMES regarding that race, which as of Friday morning, had not yet been finalized.

Roland Police Investigator Sgt. Jeremy Day said Tuesday that Cole was suspended for violating town and police policy and procedures and was placed on suspension until the town council made a decision about his employment.

Cole is accused of allegedly trying to get a high school student to leave marijuana at Swofford's home so Cole could take a photo of the delivery and then use the photo as a way to try to get Swofford to drop out of the race for town council, Day confirmed Tuesday. The person who Cole allegedly tried to get to assist him confessed and went to Swofford to tell him about Cole's plan, which was never carried out.

But Cole's attorney, Frank Sullivan III of Sallisaw, said Thursday that Cole, who has been employed with the town for 12 years and is also the jail administrator, denies that he tried to frame Swofford to impact the race for town council.

Sullivan said that Cole was only trying to investigate an allegation.

According to the formal appeal addressed to Roland Mayor J.R. Crowson, Cole alleges that he heard from certain people that a high school senior was bragging about how she was selling marijuana to Swofford, a teacher and coach.

On March 13, Cole, who was not in uniform or in his town vehicle, allegedly met the student in the presence of two other people, Sullivan wrote. During the conversation, Cole claims that the student allegedly said that she sold marijuana to Swofford on numerous occasions.

On Tuesday, Day said that all the allegations against Swofford have been unfounded and that there was no evidence that Swofford had done anything wrong.

Swofford said on Thursday that he has not seen Cole's appeal letter. He did not wish to comment on the case without first speaking with his attorney, who was out of town.

Cole allegedly asked the student if she would be willing to cooperate with law enforcement. She allegedly agreed and Cole told the girl to call him back the next day after he spoke to law enforcement.

Sullivan alleges that Cole did not go to his superiors about the allegations because he feared he would lose his job.

According to the appeal, Cole contacted the sheriff's office about the situation.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Johnny Philpot said Thursday that he was only recently informed that Cole contacted a part-time reserve deputy. Cole told the deputy that he had information that a student was providing marijuana to a teacher, Philpot said.

"He wouldn't say who the student or teacher was," Philpot said.

Philpot questioned why Cole did not contact him directly. "Why he (Cole) contacted a part-time reserve guy is the question."

Philpot said if Cole would have revealed information, the first thing they would've done was contact the student. He added that they never opened an official investigation because of a lack of information.

"It's like he (Cole) done it so he could say he done it," Philpot speculated about Cole contacting a reserve deputy.

According to Sullivan, the student never called Cole back and after several attempts to contact her, Cole said the student's mother called and informed him that her daughter would not be getting involved.

Day said the reason for Cole's plot appeared to be political. He said that Cole had a group of candidates he wanted to be voted into office and Cole allegedly admitted it was for political reasons.

But Sullivan argued that, "He (Cole) never admitted he did anything for political motivations."

In the letter, Sullivan wrote that Cole did not participate in any political activity and did not use his position for or against any candidate.

Cole, who was acting as an officer when this alleged incident occurred, allegedly broke several police and town policies, which led to his suspension, Day said.

According to town policy, a city employee can't use his or her position for or against any candidate for public office and can not engage in any political activity.

Cole claims that the town administrator first approached Swofford in an effort to convince him to run for city council. Sullivan wrote that move appears to be a violation of town provisions.

According to police procedures, Cole allegedly violated police conduct and behavior policy, which says that an officer "shall not commit any act or omission tending to bring reproach or discredit upon themselves or the department." He also allegedly violated a police policy regarding the identity of informants and not divulging police information.

Sullivan said Cole has a right to appeal to the council. In the letter, Sullivan requested all the documents leading to Cole's suspension and requested the opportunity to present Cole's case to the board.