In the Sequoyah County Times newspaper June 26 issue, I noticed the article where candidate Ron Lockhart presented to the county commissioners that a deputy with the sheriff's department was using a seized/county flatbed trailer for Sheriff Johnny Philpot. Candidate Ron Lockhart also located other seized property located at deputies' private residences.
Sheriff Philpot's answer was that he didn't know his deputy was using the trailer to campaign with, and after being made aware of the situation by candidate Lockhart, he instructed the deputy to take it back. Sheriff Philpot also stated that the reason property is housed at deputies' residences is because they do repairs to seized property.
I'm not in law enforcement, but I do know that seized property doesn't belong to the sheriff's department until the district attorney has a forfeiture hearing.
I know on some of this property, including the trailer being used by the sheriff's office, no forfeiture has been done and no work should be done on any of the property.
Candidate Lockhart appears to know more on what is going on in the sheriff's office than Sheriff Philpot. The sheriff's department enforces laws but it appears they don't mind breaking laws. No seized property or evidence should be used by employees or housed at private residences of the sheriff's office.
It's about time that we elect a sheriff that has experience in criminal investigation and at least knows not to house seized evidence at private residences of deputies. I'm glad that candidate Lockhart will stand up for citizens of this county. I wonder what else is going on in the sheriff's office that we don't know.
I would also like to say that the sheriff's office has sure been in the paper the last few months starting new programs. I credit candidate Lockhart for these new programs because of his aggressive campaign.
Why didn't Philpot start these programs years ago? Could it be that Lockhart is running strong and Philpot is trying everything to get re-elected?
Citizens, let's move the sheriff's office into the 21st century and send a clear message that everyone should be treated equal and deputies are not above the law. Let's elect a sheriff that will be working everyday and not just months before election.
JAMES CHEATWOOD, SALLISAW
