Claremore Daily Progress

Breaking News

Top Stories

August 1, 2012

Sheriff’s Office seeks funding for cameras

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Rogers County Sheriff’s Office is requesting funding for additional camera systems after Tera Mattingly posted accusations against the department on Facebook.

Undersheriff John Sappington went before the Rogers County Commissioners with thousands of documented posts to the site.
Sappington’s request was simple: to fully fund the budget of the Sheriff’s Office in order to provide funding for the purchase of additional camera systems.
Currently the office has limited cameras available to deputies, according to Sappington.
The request for funding would be for approximately $200,000 to purchase body cameras and dash cameras for all deputies.
Sappington explained that the recent issue with Mattingly prompted more than 50,000 visitors to the Rogers County Sheriff’s Facebook page and set off a media storm.
“The issue was resolved when the video was released to the media,” Sappington explained.
Mattingly accused deputies of harassing her and refusing to help her after she became locked in at Oologah Lake.
The event occurred on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Park after Mattingly ignored warning signs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           resulting in the gates to the park being locked with her still inside.
Mattingly, her teenage friend and 5-year-old daughter were locked in the park at sundown.
Due to her frustration, Mattingly rammed the gate and attempted to drive around a barrier.
The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene and that is where Mattingly’s story became inconsistent with the video.
The video cleared the deputies of the accusations Mattingly posted.
Sappington explained to the commissioners how important this technology is today and how it could not only save lives but also prevent frivolous legal action against the department.
“This is not a budget friendly task, but it is the best direction for the department,” Sappington said.
“This could save someone’s life,” Commissioner Dan DeLozier said.
Commissioner Mike Helm also clarified that this request would require a fully funded budget for the Sheriff’s Office.
Sappington agreed that they would not have the funding for the cameras without it.
No action was taken on the item and Sappington said it could take three months to get the equipment.
Sappington will continue to research the product until the item is added to the agenda and approved by the commissioners.

Text Only
Top Stories
  • Oologah Lake oil pipeline UPDATE: Oil pipeline inspection underway at Oologah Lake

    A routine maintenance inspection of an oil pipeline below the floor of Oologah Lake is currently underway, according to information provided by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Tulsa District.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Big Cat competition Noodlers & Classic Cars

    Classic car enthusiasts, noodlers, families and friends gathered Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center for the Hot Rods & Heroes Car Show and Poker Run, followed by the Battle of the Big Cats, “Route 66’s richest noodling showdown.”

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Commissioners look to reduce insurance expenses

    The Rogers County Commissioners are looking at ways to save money in the new fiscal year by reviewing their current insurance policy.

    June 18, 2013

  • Progress wins first place for in-depth reporting

    A series of stories and editorials on Rogers County government by the Claremore Daily Progress received a first place award at the annual Better Newspaper Contest Awards.

    June 18, 2013

  • G8 exposes rift among leaders on Syria

    Deep differences over Syria’s fierce civil war clouded a summit of world leaders Monday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin defiantly rejecting calls from the U.S., Britain and France to halt his political and military support for Syrian leader Bashar Assad’s regime.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU pushes online material as textbook alternative

    Students are saving money on textbooks because of a program that puts more college course material online, according to University of Oklahoma officials.

    June 17, 2013

  • Owasso house fire Lightning causes Owasso house fire

    Lightning caused a house to burn early Monday morning in the northern area of Owasso. Limestone firefighters responded to the fire around 5 a.m. on Knightsbridge Road near Dover Pond, according to information from Limestone Fire Department.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • FACES164.jpg State photo-ID databases become troves for police

    The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver's-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations.

    June 17, 2013 3 Photos

  • Supremet Court: Ariz. citizenship proof law illegal

    The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.

    June 17, 2013

  • Father's Day Oh, the places he’s been!

    For the past few years, Claremore youth Joseph Hutson has been living a life Dr. Suess could have only imagined when writing “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo