Community Group Opposes Use Of Public Money To Fund TCSO Lawyers

The public will pay for Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz's attorney in his motion to dismiss a grand jury investigation.

Tulsa County Commissioners approved the contract between Glanz and his new counsel Monday afternoon, but those who passed the petitions that asked for the grand jury are not happy about it.

Members of the group, We the People Oklahoma, said they don't want public money used to pay for the sheriff's legal fees, but the sheriff's office and county commissioners said it's not taxpayer dollars, but fees from services accounts.

A county commissioner explained that the money comes from handgun license fees and other services provided by the sheriff's office.

At a special meeting of the county commissioners Monday afternoon, the commissioners' attorney said the sheriff has the right to hire outside counsel.

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Glanz's attorneys include Meredith Baker, Terry Simonson, Clark Brewster, Scott Wood and now, McDonald, McCann, Metcalf and Carwile.

"The taxpayers are paying double. They're already paying for Meredith Baker and they also now are getting ready to pay for another attorney to defend against the taxpayers," said Marq Lewis with We The People Oklahoma.

The group was also upset that commissioners did not take public comment at the meeting.

Commissioners said, to follow procedure, the group needed to ask for time for public comment before the meeting started.

There is another development involving the sheriff's office, as a second addendum has been filed in a civil case against the sheriff, commissioners, Bob Bates and others.

It details systemic problems within the sheriff's office leading up to the shooting death of Eric Harris.