Oklahoma

‘This will rehydrate us’: new sheriff operations bills to support Oklahoma departments

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2024

‘This will rehydrate us’: new sheriff operations bills to support Oklahoma departments

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – New legislation passed in May will give sheriff departments across the state a chance to apply for grant money which may be extremely beneficial for smaller departments.

Oklahoma lawmakers created House Bill 2914, otherwise known as the ‘Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office Funding Assistance Program’, which will offer state sheriff offices a grant to use for operational costs.

”I think this is a thumbs up,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Jeremie Wilson. “It’s a support. It’s kind of like when you’re dehydrated and you get an IV and they rehydrate you. This is gonna rehydrate us.”

Though the grant money can not go directly towards salary increases, the bill will offer departments the chance to rearrange funds with some of that money freeing up for salaries.

”Essentially will help some of the poorest counties in Oklahoma be able to properly compensate and pay sheriff deputies in those counties,” said one of the bill’s co-authors District 62 representative, Trey Caldwell. “We’ve seen time and time again in.. surrounding Lawton Counties where they couldn’t even pay a living wage to sheriff deputies.”

Representative Caldwell said in counties like Tillman, Sheriff Deputies make roughly $20,000 a year. Low pay is something Sheriff Wilson said his department also goes through.

”Right now we’re the fifth poorest county in Oklahoma. So, with that, the commissioners and I, we work close together. We try to obtain the best law enforcement presence that we can but funding drives everything.”

With a tight budget, Sheriff Wilson said he’s experienced problems with retention on an already small force. He hopes this bill will fix that, giving citizens a better peace of mind.

”At any one time there may be only one deputy on duty and covering that vast territory,” Rep. Caldwell said. “Just trying to make sure that we can kind of help them meet those needs, because those constituents deserve to have a safe and prosperous environment as well.”

Sheriff Wilson added the state’s support doesn’t go unnoticed.

“This is a way that the state is gonna help us. I took it as a ‘thank you’ and ‘keep up the good work’,” he said.

The bill will issue funds in a hierarchy system. There are three tiers, arranged to give poorer counties more money:

“$150,000 for a county in the lower 26 counties ranked by gross assessed total tangible property value,”

“250,000 for a county ranked higher than 26 but lower than 53…”

“300,000 for a county ranked equal to or greater than 53..”

In a statement sent to 7News, State Appropriations and Budget Chair, Kevin Wallace said in part quote:

“County sheriffs provide numerous services throughout the state, including ensuring our citizens’ safety. Helping counties with the means to recruit and retain sheriffs will provide better protection for all Oklahomans.”

You can read the rest of that statement at the bottom of this article.

The bill will become active on July 1.

FULL STATEMENT:

“County sheriffs provide numerous services throughout the state, including ensuring our citizens’ safety. Helping counties with the means to recruit and retain sheriffs will provide better protection for all Oklahomans. The current base salary for a county sheriff is $19,000, which is abysmally low in today’s economy. Raising the base to $44,000 better compensates these officials for the many services they provide and will also allow an increase in deputy pay. While I and many others would prefer the base to be higher, this is the amount we were able to negotiate with our Senate budget partners. This funding for sheriff’s pay could also help offset the costs of other areas of local government within counties.”

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Oklahoma

Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star

Published

47 minutes ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star

Kaysville (Utah) Davis athlete Bode Sparrow cut his list to four back in May and has now locked in his commitment date.

Sparrow is a tremendous player on both sides of the ball and checks in as the No. 77 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

He will make his long awaited college choice this Friday, May 25 from a final four of BYU, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

In handicapping this race, two schools jump out for us. The first is Oklahoma. I put a commit prediction in for the Sooners back in March and there was some buzz that he could commit around that time.

Sparrow decided to hold off making an early decision in order to take his official visits. Oklahoma was the first visit locked in and for awhile, the only visit that was set, giving even more credence to the Sooners being the team to beat.

“They really believe in me and have a vision for me there,” Sparrow told us after his official visit. “They show me so much love and I have such great relationships with the coaches there.

“I also really like the town of Norman and the plan in place for me from a safety/scheme standpoint. They really have everything I’m looking for in a school. Brent Venables is great, a defensive minded head coach and I just love the all around fit.”

Sparrow followed up his visit to OU with trips to Oregon, Utah and BYU. The Ducks made a big impression and should be considered a dark horse. They are easily one of the toughest schools to recruit against and it would surprise no one if Sparrow ends in Eugene.

Saying that, the school that is gaining a lot of momentum and looks to be Oklahoma’s biggest challenger is BYU. For months we talked to some close to Sparrow, college coaches and trainers who all said the same thing, ‘don’t rule out BYU in the end.’

No one has recruited Sparrow longer than the Cougs. He has been on campus more than any other school, he’s strong in his LDS faith and he has a great connection with the BYU staff including head coach Kalani Sitake.

BYU was able to get the final visit over the weekend and there is some quiet confidence in Provo as well as from a few other recruits/commits who were also on the visit. With the church connection, we’ve long said in a head to head battle, BYU is very tough to beat, especially for an in-state player.

Saying that, there are still Sooner commits we’ve talked to convinced Sparrow is still headed to Norman. That’s why this recruitment has become one of the more fascinating ones to follow this cycle, it’s one of those rare instances where days away from a decision, it could still go in multiple directions.

For now, my commit prediction remains on Oklahoma but BYU is closing fast and this one close to a toss up with a decision quickly approaching.

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Oklahoma

OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career

Published

11 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are remembering a dedicated K-9 officer who passed away earlier this month.

K-9 Dak was born in 2014 and began serving with the OHP in 2015.

Throughout his distinguished career, officials say Dak’s exceptional instincts made a significant impact on public safety across the state.

During his career, Dak was instrumental in the seizure of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 46 pounds of cocaine, 151 pounds of methamphetamine, and 99 pounds of fentanyl.

“These remarkable accomplishments represent countless lives protected and communities made safer through Dak’s service,” OHP wrote.

Dak worked his final shift on June 3 before peacefully passing away from natural causes on June 7.

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“More than his statistics and accomplishments, Dak was a loyal partner, trusted teammate, and beloved member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. His legacy will live on through the work he accomplished, the bond he shared with his handler, and the many lives he touched throughout his career,” OHP said.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2

Published

22 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2

It’s Boomer Sooner time in Omaha.

Oklahoma has won the 2026 Men’s College World Series, steamrolling through North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3, 13-2, capturing its first national title in over 30 years and third overall. The Sooners are the seventh straight SEC team to win the national championship.

A dogpile with cheers that made its way through the infiled, it closed out the Sooners’ one-for-the-ages NCAA tournament run.

for the third time in program history, the Oklahoma Sooners are national champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xEvjGxhqgM
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 23, 2026
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It was an all-around masterclass for OU, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the third and never looking back. They put at least one run across the plate in four of the final six innings, including three in the fourth and four in the eighth.

The fourth was where Oklahoma’s upper hand became clear. Walker McDuffie’s three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases, and UNC turned to star freshman Caden Glauber. The Tar Heels were previously 29-0 with whenever he pitched, but he was pulled after a walk and Jaxon Willits’ two-RBI single.

LJ Mercurius was outstanding on the mound, entering for starter Nick Wesloski in the third and tossing 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. It was his longest outing since April 17.

Outside of Mercurius, shortstop Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch starred for the Sooners. The former went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was named Most Outstanding Player, while Branch also went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs, a career-high. He’s the third player all-time to record six or more RBIs in a national championship game.

The victory caps off OU’s gauntlet-like journey to the top. After finishing 11th in SEC regular season play, they knocked off five national seeds — three in the top five and two on the road — leaning on a trio of freshman arms and a historic power surge at the plate.

Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team: