The Okarche Town Trustees voted to fire Police Chief Forrest Smith at a special meeting Tuesday night, April 23.
After a three-hour executive season, the vote was 4-1 to fire the chief who had been on the hot seat over an ongoing audit in the town.
The trustees also accepted the resignation of town attorney Bryce Kennedy Jr. Kennedy submitted the resignation letter after an item was placed on an agenda to consider firing him at the meeting Tuesday. Kennedy had been the town’s attorney 14 years.
Also, Cameron Spradling, the attorney who represented the Kingfisher High School abuse victim in a civil lawsuit that resulted in a $5 million settlement from the district, spoke on behalf of Chief Smith Tuesday night.
Spradling blasted the Okarche trustees for firing Smith. He praised Smith for his past work in Perry where he was an assistant chief, and Spradling told trustees he thinks Smith’s firing was a mistake.
Meanwhile, Okarche school resource officer and police officer Sgt. Chris Sadler was named as the acting police chief. Sgt. Sadler is not related to Mayor Jeff Sadler.
Mayor Sadler voted against firing Smith at the Tuesday meeting. But trustees Jason Kroener, Jon Alig, J.D. Mueggenborg and Jeff Brueggen voted to fire the chief Tuesday night.
An agenda read: “Consider convening into executive session for the purpose of discussing the conditions of employment including the hiring, firing, promotion, or demotion of Police Chief Forrest Smith.”
A crowd packed the Town Hall, 103 W. Oklahoma Avenue.
The agenda item concerning the town’s attorney read, “Consideration and possible action concerning termination of professional legal services with Town Attorney Bryce S Kennedy. Consideration and possible action concerning appointment of Daniel G. Webber as interim Town Attorney for professional legal services.”
Police Chief Smith is one of the Republican candidates who have filed to run for the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s seat.
In a statement to the Okarche Warrior Tuesday afternoon Smith wrote:
“It is with deep disappointment that I address the recent developments regarding my employment as Chief of Police in Okarche. The news that my continued role is up for discussion on tonight’s town agenda comes as a surprise and a blow, not only to me but to the community I have worked tirelessly to serve.”
An ongoing audit has raised concerns about a police department fundraiser, and Smith has been asked to produce documents surrounding a past fundraiser that sold patches.
An audit of town finances was on the agenda of a special meeting at Okarche Town Hall Thursday, April 11, and heated discussions broke out about how many fundraisers the police department has conducted.
The audit had been expected to be presented to the Okarche town trustees in early 2024, but more information was sought. Police Chief Forrest Smith said all information had previously been turned over to the auditing team. He said information about a fundraiser selling patches in 2021 was turned in.
There is still more information needed, an auditor has reported. Town trustees were given until 5 p.m. Friday, April 19 to turn in documents that were needed.
Smith wrote Tuesday, April 23, “Since assuming the position of Chief of Police in 2018, my primary objective has been to rebuild the Okarche Police Department and reforge its connection with our community. When I first took office, the department was in disarray, and the disconnect between law enforcement and the citizens of Okarche was palpable. Past officers seemed to have lost sight of the fundamental principles of being a law enforcement officer—integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to serving and protecting the community.”
The statement continues: “Over the years, we have made significant strides in revitalizing the department and restoring trust among residents. Through community outreach programs, engagement with local schools, and fostering open communication channels, we have transformed the Okarche Police Department into a beacon of safety and security for our town.”
“However, it appears that some members of the town board have chosen to disregard these achievements and instead focus on personal agendas. As I campaign for sheriff of Kingfisher County, it seems that my candidacy has become a target for their misguided efforts.”
LaDonna Sinning, of Arledge & Associates P.C., told town trustees in a special meeting that information about fundraisers is still needed to complete the audit.
Back in December, 2023, it was announced that information was needed to complete an annual audit of Okarche’s 2022-2023 fiscal year finances, according to a list of requests from an auditor on a paper trail.
The annual audit performed by the Edmond-based Arledge & Associates auditor lacks completion of interviews with trustees and police department members. The interviews had not been completed as of Nov. 17, according to a list of needs released to The Okarche Warrior
The “fraud” interviews are a routine part of an audit and are usually conducted at the beginning of the auditor’s work, a town official said.
A letter from Sinning of Arledge & Associates to the Town of Okarche reads:
“We would like to complete the 2022 audit and move forward with completing the 2023 audit so that the Town can work toward timely audits again in the future. However, we are still missing information that was requested last year and again on January 16, 2024. These items are summarized as follows:
Detailed information, including access to all bank or online account records, surrounding fundraising revenue, sticker sales revenue, and contributions and/or donations related to the police department. We can complete the audit without these items, but it is unlikely that we would issue an opinion on the Town’s financial statements and would instead be looking at a Disclaimer of Opinion due to the missing financial information. Please let us know if you would like us to finish the audit as is, or if we should continue to wait on the missing financial information for the Town to be provided by the Police Department.”
According to the list of needs the auditor requested from Okarche, fundraising by the police department is listed as needing review. The auditor’s list of needs was provided to The Okarche Warrior through an open records request.
“Detailed account activity for all bank or online accounts used to collect donations,” was being reviewed, the list of needs reads.
Fundraisers by the police department, “whether the fundraiser be for the Town, for the department, for a nonprofit or for an individual in need,” were requested, according to the list of needs.
There are no complaints about town finances currently, and the audit is a routine annual audit, town trustee Jason Kroener said.
The auditor has requested “personal accounts used including Venmo, Paypal and similar online transactions applications or bank accounts of all types. This should be for the period, July 1, 2021 through the current date,” the list reads.
Also under review is a $116,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant to the town of Okarche in 2022.
Smith wrote on Tuesday, April 23, “I want to make it clear that I have, in some form, assisted a majority of the members of this board, perhaps even safeguarding their skeletons in my closet. It is disheartening to see them forget the hard work, sleepless nights, and countless hours I have dedicated to serving this community. Okarche is not just a place of residence for me; it is my community, and I have poured my heart and soul into making it a better place for all.”
“The personal agenda that has manifested and evolved from a few board members will only tarnish the reputation of this great community. They should be ashamed of themselves—seriously ashamed. No matter the decision made tonight, I will continue to respect and uphold the values of integrity and dedication to the citizens of Okarche.
It is my hope that the members of the town board will remember their duty to represent the interests of their constituents and not allow personal grievances to overshadow the progress we have made together.”
Smith previously told town trustees that all information requested from the police department had been provided to the auditors. He said the last large donation to the department was $10,000 to the in 2019 when an insurance company donated body cameras to the officers. He said all records of fundraisers have been provided to the auditor.
Smith said the department in February 2022 helped raise funds for Mended Hearts, a nonprofit that helps children with heart defects. Records of the fundraising have been provided, Smith said.
Other items requested by the auditor include missing phone bills and all bank statements for the town.
The Okarche town trustees at a special meeting in November approved the cost for a fiscal year 2023 audit and the fee for the fiscal year 2022-2023 audit. The fiscal year covers the period from July 1, 2022 to June 20, 2023.
The trustees approved the plan to complete the audits unanimously at their November monthly meeting.
In a letter from Arledge & Associates to the town trustees dated Nov. 10, an update on the audit plans was addressed. The cost of the audit for fiscal year 2023, will be $30,000. The 2022 fiscal year audit cost comes to $30,000.
“As you are aware, our initial goal was to present the final audit (for fiscal year 2022) report at the Dec. 2 board meeting. However, we encountered certain challenges during the audit process,” The letter reads. “These challenges included issues related to the cooperation of some personnel outside of the finance and accounting areas, difficulties in obtaining specific documents held by employees outside of the accounting and finance areas, and the need for a comprehensive research-based approach to move forward. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
The letter from the Edmond-based firm spells out a plan to complete the audit.
“We are pleased to inform you that we have developed a plan for moving forward and anticipate completing the audit in the coming months,” the letter to the town reads. “Our efforts will be focused on finalizing the 2022 audit in early 2024. Following the completion of this audit we will transition into the fiscal 2023 audit, ensuring a more efficient and timely process.
The board unanimously approved accepting the cost of the audit work for 2023 and the cost of the 2022 audit at the regular meeting in November.
