The group that led a petition effort for a grand jury investigation into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday protested the TCSO’s relationship with outside law firms, asking county commissioners to end its contract.
Tulsa County commissioners called the request moot because the contract has already run its course.
As previously reported, Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz incurred more than $12,000 in legal expenses during June in an attempt to fight the grand jury petition.
The Sheriff’s Office invoice from law firm McDonald McCann Metcalf & Carwile listed $12,839 in expenses for 53 hours of work.
We the People Oklahoma, the group that organized the petition, sent a letter Aug. 20 to the county commissioners seeking a termination of the contract.
At Monday’s regular County Commission meeting, the board heard public comment requesting the termination.
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However, Commissioner John Smaligo said no action was possible because the contract has already concluded.
Doug Wilson, the commissioners’ legal counsel, said he has talked with the Sheriff’s Office and the law firm about their services, which they said have already been completed.
“There’s nothing left to do,” Wilson said.
The argument centers around an interpretation of a law that allows the sheriff to seek outside counsel.
Leaders of We the People Oklahoma argue that the in-house general counsel for the Sheriff’s Office, Meredith Baker, negates the ability to use outside legal services.
The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office disagrees, contending it has interpreted the law as a necessity to allow the Sheriff’s Office to properly defend itself.