Haskell County Sheriff Reflects On ‘Operation Local Impact’

Seven months of teamwork between Haskell County deputies and five other agencies resulted in 17 arrests for drug crimes.

Haskell County Sheriff Tim Turner said these arrests were part of "Operation Local Impact."

The agencies involved with "Operation Local Impact" include the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office, Stigler Police Department, Oklahoma District 18 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, and the Porum Police Department.

The goal of the operation is to reduce the distribution of drugs in the county.

"So what we have seen is an influx in the distribution of methamphetamine," Turner said. “And people who are street-level users have now become a street-level dealer because there has been consequences for crimes they have committed for simple possession.”

Turner said he is also fighting against State Question 805, which would prohibit using a person's past non-violent felony convictions to impose a greater or enhanced sentence.

Turner said he personally arrested 15 of the 17 suspects arrested Friday before.

"I'm very emotional,” Turner said. “I see all Oklahoma being affected. I see, as families like mine, being affected by substance abuse because these offenders have no repercussions for the crimes they committed.”

Turner hopes to see a reduction of drug crimes in his county and is urging voters to think carefully before they vote on State Question 805.

"We’re asking Oklahoma to stop decriminalizing and stop making Oklahoma a lawless land," Turner said.