(This article appeared in The Choctaw Sun-Advocate, May 9, 2018.)
By Dee Ann Campbell
Sun-Advocate Publisher
BUTLER, SILAS – The Choctaw County Commission has approved a contract that will provide a part-time law enforcement officer for the Town of Silas.
The Commission voted on Tuesday to give the go-ahead for a proposal submitted last month by Choctaw County Sheriff Scott Lolley. The vote allows an agreement between the town, the county, and his department. The CCSO will provide the services of a part-time deputy to act as a law enforcement officer for the Town, with the Town paying the cost of the salary through the contract with the county.
The Silas Town Council approved the contract in March.
The final version of the contract, approved on Tuesday, states that the town will pay the basic salary, with the CCSO paying FICA and worker’s compensation costs. Lolley said that funds for those costs will come from pistol permit dollars coming into his department.
Lolley said that, under the contract specifics, any of the three entities – the town, county, or his department – could opt out of the contract with 30 days’ cancellation notice.
“I’m proud of and ready to do this,” Lolley said. “It is something positive and will help a town that could not otherwise afford a police officer.”
County attorney Lee McPhearson gave the final nod for the plan, adding that the new contract covers the issue of incarceration of municipal inmates by the town.
McPhearson said that Silas does not have the same agreement for use of the county jail that the towns of Butler, Gilbertown, and Pennington currently have.
Those towns pay a fee per inmate to cover the cost of incarceration for those arrested for municipal violations. McPhearson said that Silas will not be incarcerating inmates for such violations but will do so for violations under state law.
The commission voted unanimously in favor of the contract.
Related Article: Sheriff’s office proposing contract with local towns for municipal officers
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