Justice Department wants Latimer County to repay grant

Thursday, February 2nd 2006, 11:11 am

By: News On 6

WILBURTON, Okla. (AP) -- The U-S Justice Department wants Latimer County to repay more than $170,000 in federal grant money that was to be used to hire additional law enforcement officers.

The Justice Department says the sheriff's department used the grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services -- or COPS -- to pay officers who weren't certified.

Justice Department spokesman Gilbert Moore says a letter has been sent to the county asking for repayment.

The alleged violations occurred from March 1995 through April 2001 during the tenure of former Sheriff Melvin Holly.

Holly is now serving a 25 year prison sentence for sexually assaulting female inmates and employees.

Acting Sheriff Chris Ford says he hasn't heard about the situation. Ford took office Monday after Sheriff Wayne Brinkley resigned.