2018 a Good Year for Sequoya County

  12/26/2018

Source: Sequoyah County Times - LYNN MCCULLEY

In 2018, Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane and his office received state recognition for “outstanding service and commitment” which he attributes mostly to the dedicated employees in his department.

Lane recognized and handed out awards to his team at the annual Sheriff's Office Awards Banquet and Christmas Dinner held Dec. 17 at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds.

Awards were presented to the following:

Travis Gabbert for the Sheriff's Choice Award;

Bobby Long and Rosa Scott of Sallisaw Overhead Door Company-Continued Support Award;

Assistant Jail Administrator Dana Stites-Employee of the Year Award;

Megan Patton-Dispatcher of the Year Award;

Jeremy Day-Helen Edwards Award for the Co-reserve Deputy of the Year;

Mark Choate-Helen Edwards Award for the Co-reserve Deputy of the Year;

Gene Wheat-Investigator of the Year Award;

Deputy Jason Stone-Deputy of the Year Award; and

Chad Lane of Parkerbuilt Homes-Continued Support Award.

“Congratulations to all the winners,” Lane said.

“Our deputies and investigators are working harder than ever before.  The drug arrests are way up and the burglaries are way down. I am very proud of our department, the dispatchers, jailers, reserve deputies, patrol deputies and investigators all work hard every day,” Lane said.

In 2018 Lane said deputies arrested 1,517 people.

“That's up from 1,480 last year which is more than double the amount of arrests by the sheriff's office from any of the previous five years including the 710 arrests in 2013,” Lane said.

In addition, the sheriff's office conducted 37 drug raids in 2018.

“That's 10 fewer raids from a year ago but still more than double the amount of drug raids in the previous five years combined,” he said. Deputies took 388 burglary and theft reports in 2018 compared to 410 last year “which is more than 55 percent fewer than any of the previous five years.” 

Lane also said the daily incarceration rate was 114 inmates per day in 2018 compared to 130 last year and only 78 people per day over the previous five years. 

In 2018 Sequoyah County Deputies were sent for trainings by the ATF, DEA, FBI, OSBI, Homeland Security, Department of Justice and several other local and state agencies, Lane said.

“The dispatcher center received 28,157 calls in 2018 which resulted in 1,945 reports filed by deputies with 351 of those being referred to the detectives for further investigation. Deputies also served 2,244 civil papers and subpoenas in 2018,” Lane said.

In 2018 Lane received the 2018 Oklahoma Gang Investigators, Street Warrior Award from state officials along with Charles House and Christian Goode for their quick response to saving lives.

Other awards to members of his department are as follows: 

Cindy Smith-2018 Oklahoma Sheriff's Association Meritorious Service Award;

Sonny Jasna-2018 Oklahoma Sheriff's Association Detention Officer of the year; and Colton Goff for 2018 CCR/SART Domestic Violence Officer of the Year.

“I'm very proud of our department,” Lane said.

“What jumps out at me is that there are almost twice as many people in jail now than in the previous five years. As a result of that, the burglaries are down almost 55 percent.

“The dispatchers, jailers, reserve deputies, patrol deputies and investigators all work hard every day. I thank them all for their service,” Lane said.