Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

August 3, 2012

Ark. sets policies for state troopers at sports events

ASSOCIATED PRESS Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK — A new policy unveiled Friday bars Arkansas state troopers who work college sports events from accepting free tickets or other items if the value would exceed limits set by state law.

The policy comes several months after a trooper assisted former Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino following a motorcycle crash with his mistress and the subsequent revelation that the trooper had accepted gifts from the Razorbacks athletic program.

Under the policy distributed to officers Friday, troopers must follow state ethics laws regarding gifts and can provide security only when they are on duty. They may be paid only their regular state wage and any token of appreciation must not be excessive.

Arkansas law generally forbids public employees, officials and other state workers from accepting gifts valued at more than $100.

The school fired Petrino after discovering he had given money to the woman on his motorcycle and helped her obtain a university job after they had an affair.

Petrino called Capt. Jeffrey Lance King after crashing a motorcycle during an outing with the woman, Jessica Dorrell. King took Petrino to a hospital and in the ensuing days revealed that he had received $3,111 worth of gifts from the Razorbacks program, including game tickets and a Sugar Bowl ring worth $225. King reported himself to the state Ethics Commission, which proposed a letter of caution to the trooper.

State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said that until Friday, the agency did not have a formal policy on how troopers should handle requests to provide security for university sports teams and coaches.

According to the document, when a request comes in, troop commanders should ensure an officer can work a game without interfering with other police operations. On game days, the troopers can wear their uniforms and must provide security only, avoiding actions that would make it appear they were part of the team.

They also cannot use police cruisers to transport team members unless there is a need to provide extra security or emergency transport.

The state police director must authorize trips out of state. Department vehicles cannot travel out of state, and any travel expenses, including meals and lodging, must be paid by the school. When Arkansas is at a road game, any trooper accompanying the team cannot wear a team logo.

Under state law, troopers are required to provide protection for agencies, universities and other events on public property if they aren't needed elsewhere.

The University of Arkansas issued a written statement thanking the agency for establishing a written policy. It declined comment on why it gave the troopers gifts to begin with.

The sight of state troopers alongside coaches on game day is common around the Southeastern Conference in particular. Some officers travel to away games, a cost paid for mostly by the schools.

At LSU, the state police escort began back in the late 1970s when Jerry Stovall was coach. LSU compensates the trooper assigned to coach Les Miles for any hotel rooms and travel expenses, which was a common arrangement according to responses to the AP last April from police in Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.



 

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_9471web.jpg Howe, Whatley shine at OU Showcase

    Claremore High School seniors Bryce Howe and Matt Whatley caught the eyes of several NCAA Division I and JUCO scouts Friday in Norman.
    Howe and Whatley, as well as Claremore’s Cole Weiesnbach and Cameron Smith, competed with the Bearcats — a competitive baseball team coached by Jenks’ Jeff Owens — at the University of Oklahoma Showcase.

    June 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • DSC_0119web.jpg ‘Staying close to home’

    Home is where the heart is.
    Claremore graduate Isaac Hollihan loves playing baseball and takes his academics pretty serious.
    For the next four years, Hollihan will continue his baseball career a short distance from his Claremore residence at Rogers State University.

    June 13, 2013 2 Photos

  • ORU announces soccer coaching changes

    With the recent resignation of longtime ORU men’s soccer coach Steve Hayes, the ORU athletics department has named Ryan Bush as the new head coach for the men’s soccer team, while Roger Bush will take over as the head coach for the women’s soccer team.

    June 17, 2013

  • ORU men's basketball to compete in Cancun Challenge

    Tournament officials announced the pairings for the 2013 Men’s Cancun Challenge, played at the Aventura Palace resort near Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

    June 17, 2013

  • Turang signs pro softball contract with Akron Racers

    Brianna Turang became the third member of Oklahoma’s senior class to join the National Pro Fastpitch ranks this week as she agreed to terms with the Akron Racers, it was announced Tuesday.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU's Ricketts wins Honda Sports Award

    Keilani Ricketts added to her already stellar resume on Thursday by winning the Honda Sports Award for softball for the second year in a row and becoming a finalist for the 2013 Honda Cup, the Collegiate Women Sports Awards announced.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU releases 2013 women's soccer schedule

    Head coach Matt Potter and University of Oklahoma Vice President/Athletics Director Joe Castiglione announced the 2013 soccer schedule on Thursday.

    June 17, 2013

  • OU men's basketball schedules European Tour

    The University of Oklahoma men's basketball team will travel to Europe this summer as part of a 10-day trip in which it will play games against international competition in preparation for the 2013-14 season.

    June 17, 2013

  • OSU releases 2013 women's soccer schedule

    Oklahoma State released its 2013 women's soccer schedule today, a scheduled highlighted by matches against nine opponents that made the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship last season, including two who played in the College Cup.

    June 17, 2013

  • Tony Allen to host Basketball Skills Academy in Stillwater

    Former Cowboy and current Memphis Grizzly Tony Allen will be hosting the Grit & Grind Basketball Skills Academy, July 29-31, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. It is one of three camps the NBA player will be hosting this summer.

    June 17, 2013