At a Monday meeting, Grady County commissioners approved a motion to request a special audit of the Grady County Sheriff’s Office. The audit will examine all property in the agency’s possession after a series of complaints that the office has failed to return personal items, including firearms and a four‑wheeler, to their owners.
Commissioners move forward with audit request
Commissioner Zach Davis, who chaired the meeting, explained that the decision followed conversations with District Attorney Jason Hicks and Sheriff Gary Boggess. “I want to make a motion for a special audit—non‑inventoried and inventoried,” Davis said, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Board Chairman Davis added that the discussion began with the district attorney to keep the public informed. “It was a conversation I originally had with Jason Hicks just to be transparent with the public, and then I think I was involved in the conversation between the sheriff and the DA,” he said.
Complaint origins and community response
The issue first gained attention after a KOCO investigation uncovered a stolen four‑wheeler that was recovered but never returned to its owner. Don Spencer, president of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, said the case spurred additional residents to come forward with similar concerns.
“This all started with the four‑wheeler issue, the gentleman not being able to get it returned, and then after we got involved a little bit, I started getting messages from people in this area saying, ‘You won’t believe the problems,’” Spencer told KOCO.
Several other callers have reported difficulty retrieving personal items, including firearms, from the sheriff’s office. KOCO is working to verify those reports.
Legal action and costs
Multiple lawsuits have already been filed against the sheriff’s office. Spencer noted that the county has incurred more than $2,300 in attorney’s fees for matters that, in his view, should have been resolved by simply returning the property.
“The county sheriff’s office here in Grady has had to spend over $2,300 in attorney’s fees for what they should have just returned to the person to begin with,” Spencer said.
Sheriff’s response
Sheriff Gary Boggess declined to comment directly on the allegations, labeling KOCO’s reporting as inaccurate on Facebook and directing inquiries to his attorney and the district attorney. When asked for comment, the assistant district attorney said it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.
During the commissioners’ meeting, Boggess said, “We want to be very transparent about this. We have nothing to hide. If this is all they had, we’ll deal with that.”
State Auditor’s Office stance
The Oklahoma State Auditor’s Office indicated it cannot comment until it receives the official audit request from the county commissioners. No timeline has been provided for when the audit might begin.
What this means for Grady County residents
County residents can expect a thorough review of the sheriff’s inventory practices once the state audit is initiated. The audit aims to determine whether the sheriff’s office has complied with legal obligations to return personal property and to identify any systemic issues that may have contributed to the current complaints.
Community members are encouraged to stay informed through county meeting minutes and updates from the State Auditor’s Office. Transparency and accountability remain central to the commissioners’ approach, reflecting a broader commitment to responsible local governance.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
